Chapter 7: The Rescue

*****

Fleet Admiral Percival Bancroft strummed his fingers along the ornate, wooden desk in front of him. It was almost dinner time and his stomach was growling, having spent the whole day without a proper meal. That wasn't uncommon with his odd schedule, and Bancroft learned a number of years ago how to get through the day on a diet of black coffee alone. Still, it irritated him to no end to have his evening supper delayed.

It wasn't without good reason. At that very moment, he was waiting on news of their raid on the Occitanian capitol of Montauban. Bancroft looked down at his command radio and made sure it was tuned to the right frequency. He didn't have to change anything as this was about the twentieth time he had checked it that hour. To say that he was nervous about the results of the battle was obvious and not without good cause.

Despite his repeated pleas over the years to the emperor about commissioning more ships for their navy, they remained outnumbered almost two-to-one in the number of warships compared to their Occitanian foes. Even heavy warships such as Occitanian battleships retained a significant number advantage against their own. Normally, a raid against their capitol might be considered a suicide quest, but Bancroft only authorized it for good reason. Reports of their main striking fleet being on the far eastern side of Occitania, and therefore far from their capitol, seemed to be true. It looked like they were going to try to blockade a large portion of his own fleet at their main naval base of Aberdeen.

However, it did afford them an opportunity. With so many of their vessels tied up blockading Aberdeen, it meant that his small striking force on the western side of Java near Lockhaven could sneak up the western coast, raid deep into Occitanian territory and perhaps shell their capitol city. It was a risky plan but no plan worth doing wasn't without risk.

"Vice Admiral McKenzie for Fleet Admiral Bancroft." The command radio crackled with the message that he so longed to hear.

Bancroft grabbed it quickly. "Go ahead, McKenzie. It's Bancroft."

"We are on a course southwest as we speak. The raid was a general success, sir. We managed to shell several of their dock facilities and even lit up some Polonium tanks. We managed to sink three frigates and two destroyers in the harbor as well. We even sent a few salvos into the city."

"That sounds like a promising raid, Admiral," said Bancroft. "Any difficulties?"

"Yes, sir. We lost two light cruisers due to enemy fire. The Velocity and the Intrepid were sunk just off the coast after we were intercepted by another Occitanian force."

Bancroft grimaced. Both of those were newer ships and their loss would be felt sorely during the weeks ahead. In any event, he wouldn't have traded two light cruisers for three frigates and two destroyers, the cruisers being considerably more valuable to their cause.

"What Occitanian force? A land force or naval force?" asked Bancroft.

"A naval force, sir," replied McKenzie. "We were intercepted by at least two battleships and three cruisers not far from our position. Our position must have been radioed in once the attack began or from someone having seen us move up the coast."

"Are they still in pursuit? Are any of the other ships damaged?" asked Bancroft.

"Negative, sir. We can outrun the battleships in our cruisers and their cruisers won't push ahead without the covering fire of their battleships. There's some light damage to the Banshee but nothing that can't be fixed over a day in dry dock."

Bancroft breathed a sigh of relief. Even though McKenzie's task force contained no capital ships, his cruisers remained the only deterrent they had on the west coast of Java. If anything happened to his task force, they'd be in serious trouble, even with most of the fleet bottled up in Aberdeen.

"Keep me informed of your progress," said Bancroft. "I want to know as soon as you're out of Occitanian waters. Get home soon."

"Aye, Admiral. We'll be back home soon," said McKenzie before the radio fell silent once more.

Bancroft reclined back in his chair, slumping into the cushioned fabric while his hand drifted to his brow and rubbed his eyes. Two cruisers. It could have been a lot worse, considering there were eight others in McKenzie's task force. But two cruisers were still a heavy price just for an assortment of light ships and some destroyed Polonium tanks.

Yet, the raid had accomplished its mission, and no doubt the Occitanians in the capitol were feeling a little frightened from the shelling. For too long, they believed themselves untouchable in their city by the sea, guarded by the well-placed main seaport of Chambery just down the coast. Any fleet that came from Java would have to go by Chambery first and since that was their main naval base, it served as protection for the capitol city.

Bancroft had been willing to gamble that most of the fleet was on the east side of the continent blockading Aberdeen and as such, in no position to defend Montauban from any sea raids. In his wildest dreams, their raid just may pull off the cover of Aberdeen and let them send forth their fleet into the open seas. But only time would tell what the results of that raid would be, even if Bancroft remained particularly hopeful.

The admiral was just about to close up his office for the night and go fetch his long-awaited dinner when there was a knock at his door. Growling under his breath at the interruption, he called out to the unknown newcomer. "Come in."

The door cracked open and a head of silver hair, hidden only partially by a cap, poked in. "Admiral, may I have a second?"

Bancroft relaxed considerably when he saw who it was. Rear Admiral Jason Clark had been his deputy for the past several years, having known the man since their own days in the academy about three decades ago. Clark wasn't too far off in age, and they had even graduated as part of the same class. Quite an illustrious class, boasting not only himself as the sole fleet admiral, but also five regular admirals, nine vice admirals and fourteen rear admirals. A particularly gifted class that one had been.

"Of course, Clark. Come on in," said Bancroft, sitting back down in his chair and making himself comfortable. He didn't mind his talks with the man. After all, he'd remained as his deputy for quite some time, a testament to his skills. But he also knew that Clark had no brevity in him, and they were bound to be there for quite some time.

Clark removed his cap and sat down in the chair in front of Bancroft's desk. Taking a handkerchief from his front pocket, he wiped a level of sweat from his brow before looking back at his commanding officer.

"What seems to be troubling you, Clark?" asked Bancroft, noticing the look of worry on the man's face.

"Admiral, I just got word from our shipbuilding facility down the coast from Lockhaven. It's not good, sir," started off Clark.

Bancroft leaned up from his seat. "What's the problem? They weren't raided, were they?"

"No, sir," said Clark with a shake of his head. "But they are running low on raw materials. As you know, with Aberdeen being blockaded by the Occies, we can't get any kind of ships out of that port, and that includes our supply ships. Usually this isn't a problem, but all of our steel industry is located just outside Aberdeen, and it's easiest to ship it around the coast to Lockhaven as opposed to sending it by rail through the interior. Much cheaper as well."

Bancroft pursed his lips. "And since we can't get any steel out of that port, our shipbuilding industry is at a standstill."

Clark nodded reluctantly. "I'm afraid so, sir. I just talked to the Presidents of Sepp & Sons Construction and JN Ironworks, and both of them have had to send their workers home. They can't do a damn thing while they're waiting on that steel, sir."

"Shit," swore Bancroft, reclining back into his seat. "We need to set up logistics by rail then. There's no telling how long this blockade will last, and we certainly won't win this conflict if we can't continually produce new ships. How long is the transit by rail?"

Clark gulped. "Assuming it went in a straight shot with no delays? About ten days."

"Ten days?" asked Bancroft incredulously. "That's madness! The ships can get there in four!"

"And that's assuming there's no delays. The rail system has been mobilized to move and assemble the emperor's army as well. I'm afraid they take precedence right now, sir. It might be closer to twenty with all of that interference.

Bancroft began to shake his head. How often had he told Charles IX that they were in no position to start a war. Too many times he'd brought legitimate concerns to his sovereign only to be chastised and ridiculed for his defeatism and inability to improvise. Now their newest ships were on hold, and the raw materials needed to complete them were on the other side of the continent. How was he supposed to win a war with these kinds of setbacks?

Bancroft grabbed his typewriter and immediately began to write up a report. While Clark watched silently, he typed up something brief and to the point, finishing it a few moments later. Taking the paper in his hands, he gave it a once over to make sure it looked all right, and then passed it to his deputy.

"Take this with you and I want you to send it to all of our critical suppliers. This is an order mandating the highest priority for our raw materials. I don't know if this will do any good, but it certainly can't hurt. We need to get that steel to our shipbuilders if we have any hope of breaking this Occitanian stranglehold," said Bancroft.

Clark scanned his eyes over the order and nodded when finished. "I'll do what I can, sir."

"That's all we can do, Clark," said Bancroft. "Was there anything else?"

Clark quickly shook his head. "No, sir. Have we heard from Admiral McKenzie yet? Was the raid a success?"

"Marginally," muttered Bancroft before taking a few moments to fill in Clark on the events of the raid, including the targets, casualties, and the strategic situation afterwards. He spared no detail, knowing that Clark was a trustworthy source and would keep the news to himself.

"It sounds like we achieved our objective though," said McKenzie after he heard the entire report. "We even sank some of their ships."

Bancroft gave the man a sour look. "We sank destroyers and frigates. Excuse me if I don't celebrate with you. If we were to lose cruisers, I at least hoped we'd take one of their capital ships with us."

"This may open an opportunity for us though," said Clark as his eyes rolled up in thought. "If most of their fleet is on the east side of the continent, perhaps we can draw them away with continual raids."

"Most of their fleet, Clark," said Bancroft. "Most is the key word there. I imagine once news of the raid hits their admiralty, they'll pull in other task forces nearby and keep them close to the capitol. Even if we tried it again, they'll be better prepared without having to weaken their main blockading fleet at Aberdeen."

Clark nodded solemnly. "It's a start though, Admiral. The Polonium tanks alone will be worth the losses we suffered. If they can't sail, they can't fight."

"You remain more optimistic than I do, Clark. Some things never change," said Bancroft with a smirk.

"You have to start somewhere, sir," said Clark with a rueful grin.

Despite their relationship going back so many decades, Clark was always in deference to the higher-ranking admiral. For one, it was the proper thing to do considering their positions in the navy. And Bancroft was a stickler for propriety. With the stakes so high, Bancroft insisted on being called by the rank and formality that he'd earned in this position. Thankfully, Clark wasn't one to push that line, usually. It was part of the reason why they got along so well and why Clark had stayed with him over the years, although it did bring a question to the admiral's mind.

"Clark, do you enjoy being in here with me? As my deputy?" asked Bancroft. "Do you ever wish to be back out there, commanding a task force or a naval base or some other kind of duty?"

Clark shrugged. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, sir. This is my home, and this is my duty. To serve you is my role in this great conflict."

Bancroft made another sour look. "Don't give me the official answer. Be real with me, Clark. Would you ever want to get the command of your own task force? You certainly have the skill for it."

Clark leaned back in his chair in thought. He was silent for a few moments, and the only sound in the room was the continual grumbling of Bancroft's stomach. Finally, the man opened up. "Of course, I think about it. It's not much fun being stuck behind a desk all these years, sir. Especially now with the war going on, who wouldn't want to be out there fighting the Occies and leading the ships in battle?"

Bancroft pursed his lips. "I can make that happen, Clark. Just say the word, and I can release you. There's enough going on that I'm sure we can find something to put you in charge of. That way, you can say you did your part during the war and won't regret that you had just a desk job."

Clark blinked at him several times and then his tone softened. "There's no regret serving you, Percy."

Bancroft winced at hearing his first name, not expecting it from the man. It had been years since he had last done that, and Bancroft thought he'd established the tone for their working relationship for good.

"It's sir, or Admiral, Clark," said Bancroft while interrupting the man. "Let's not let our moment of casualness interfere with propriety. You will address me by my rank or you won't address me at all."

Clark went red in the face and looked sheepish almost immediately. "My a-apologies, sir. Ah, what I was saying was that I don't have any regret serving under you. If this is where you need me, then this is where I'm willing to serve."

Bancroft studied the man for several moments without speaking. Even Clark could manage to surprise him after all these years. Just when he thought he knew everything about the man, one simple word showed him that he didn't. It was part of what Bancroft hated about working with people. They were still full of surprises. Only dead men had no surprises.

"Grateful to hear it, Clark," said Bancroft with a measured tone. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to return to my work." Bancroft put his head down and waited for the man to leave.

Clark left his chair with an air of awkward clumsiness. As his deputy left the room, Bancroft turned away from his desk to his filing cabinet. He grabbed a folder that he usually reserved for his meetings with the emperor and put a reminder inside to discuss the rail network with the sovereign in their next meeting. Not that it would do much, but he wanted Charles IX to know that it should be a priority for an island country to have all the fighting ships it needed to conduct a war.

While doing so, Bancroft came across the file for Commander Jack Easterbrook, and after a moment's pause, he selected it and thumbed through the papers contained inside. Several copies of the reports he'd given since he started his mission into the Fourth Vector were inside, arranged in order to tell the entire story of his journey thus far.

Frankly, as far as Bancroft was concerned, it was a miracle that Easterbrook was still alive. Not only from his many fights and battles from being in the Vector, but also just from entering the Vector in the first place. Easterbrook and his crew were now the only Easterners alive that had been inside the Vector and lived to tell about it. Bancroft was even ill at the thought of sending Easterbrook inside the Vector in the first place, yet Charles IX had been adamant about sending the talented officer on the mission.

Bancroft thumbed through several of the orders from the details of his first battle with the Occitanians at Quiller's Cove. Of course, that one had taken place right under the nose of that fool, Stanhope Lucas. The forever commodore as Bancroft liked to think of him, never having hope of being promoted while Bancroft ruled the roost. No doubt it must have killed the man to see Jack take all the glory from that engagement.

Bancroft looked at the next series of orders from when their destroyer was taken over by a group of Occitanian prisoners and the recapture of it. Ordinarily, Bancroft would have sacked a commander for losing a ship in such a manner but Jack was different. A talented officer with a brain, Easterbrook had a lot of promise. It became apparent just from talking with the young Easterbrook at the naval academy nearly fifteen years ago. From that moment, Bancroft had done everything possible to guide the man's career.

He made sure to put him in the best postings, rewarded him with early promotions, and generally showed as much favorable treatment to the man as could be given. He wasn't about to let the destroyer mutiny put a dent in his star project's career.

Yet, his actions in the Vector hadn't been without some successes. The fact that they now had an alliance with some country called Sorella was news in itself. Although Bancroft had never heard of such a place, nor could he ever hope to identify it on the map, Jack had done what he'd been asked. Such a task was extraordinary even given the status of the Vector and the certain mystery around it.

Bancroft examined the last of Jack's reports, only received this morning and brief in its request.

ATTN: FLEET ADMIRAL PERCIVAL BANCROFT

WITH RESPECT, I REQUEST THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES BE SENT TO THESE COORDINATES WITHIN THE FOURTH VECTOR. WE HAVE A NEED TO REPAIR OUR SHIPS AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO WITH OUR NEW ALLIES, THE SORELLANS. PLEASE SEND THE SUPPLIES AS SOON AS YOU CAN. IF YOU CAN SPARE ANY MARINES, WE COULD SURELY USE REINFORCEMENTS AS WELL.

RESPECTFULLY,

COMMANDER JACK EASTERBROOK

COMMANDING OFFICER, TASK FORCE 21

At the bottom of the message was a set of geographic coordinates as well as a list of supplies needed. Bancroft could tell by the list that there had been significant damage done to one ship or perhaps all of the ships of his task force. He knew that in their last action, they had taken some damage but the full extent was never revealed by Jack. Now, he could clearly see these ships needed time for repairs.

Yet, Bancroft was thankful that Jack believed they could be repaired in Sorella—wherever that was. If he had intended to sail back to Quiller's Cove, Bancroft would have been disappointed. All that time spent sailing out of the Vector, repairing the ships, and then sailing back would have been squandered when it mattered the most. The Occitanians would not wait for the ships to be repaired before attacking.

Grabbing his typewriter, Bancroft began another series of orders to go out immediately. The first, he sent to his Commodore Lucas, requesting him to release the supplies needed by Jack immediately as well as a fast ship to get it there. Bancroft thought for a moment for just the right condescending tone to use on Lucas, always insisting on making sure that the man knew exactly what Bancroft thought of him. Once satisfied, he signed the order and made sure it was sent over right away.

The second order would take longer to fulfill. Bancroft typed a message to the local commander of their Marine division and requested another battalion to send to Jack as soon as possible. He was determined to get more rifles to the commander if he had the need for them.

Satisfied with his orders, Bancroft called his personal secretary into the room to have them sent out as soon as possible. Once she took them, Bancroft shut Jack's file and placed it back in the cabinet. For the time being, Jack would have everything he requested. After all, Jack reflected back on Bancroft and every success the man had was another reason for Charles IX to never doubt his own judgment.

As long as the man wasn't too successful. His relationship with Easterbrook worked because the man knew his place under him. Bancroft was the mentor, and Easterbrook was the star pupil. Should Easterbrook ever forget his position, even in a moment of impropriety such as the one just suffered by Clark, Bancroft wouldn't be afraid to remind him why this was his navy, and no one else's.

Once his secretary was gone, Bancroft heard his stomach give an especially loud rumble. Thinking it was long past time he stopped delaying his evening meal, he grabbed his cap from the chair next to him and left his office. Locking the door behind him, Bancroft nodded to his secretary and left the building to catch the short ride back to his home.

On the ride back to his quarters, Bancroft thought more about their current predicament. Perhaps if Easterbrook could get enough allies, they would be willing to sail across the great western ocean and help to lift the blockade against them? It may be wishful thinking on his part, but it was for that very reason why they went out searching for alliances.

He just hoped that wherever Jack was, his search for allies was bearing fruit, whatever the cost.

*****

The following morning, Jack found himself walking through the streets of the former East Sorellan capitol on his way to the palace. There was a meeting with the king that he had to attend, and the last thing he wanted to do was be late for it. Jack walked along much easier than in the last few days, and only a slight limp announced the presence of his injuries from his last battle with the usurper king Daimanos.

To say that he was healing nicely would be a fair statement. Even Dr. Kendall had been pleased by the latest checkup last evening and how well the wounds were healing. While they would no doubt leave deep scars in his flesh, it was a small price to pay for still having his life. What's more, as soon as the wound in his leg healed further, his limp would go away.

Even still, he always struggled up the ornate, grand staircase at the beginning of the palatial hill of the city. Jack found himself panting once he got to the top of the hill, being greeted once more by the still waters of the fountain. Heron had left the fountain off ever since they'd captured the city days ago. To him, it was an opulent reminder of the former occupant, something that he looked at with a healthy amount of disdain. Daimanos' excesses were a large reason why the man was no longer around and why all of this luxury wouldn't last much longer with Heron now in charge.

Jack entered the western door into the palace, which opened up into the grand hall that Heron now used as his meeting place. As per usual, the king was already sitting in place at the council table, humming to himself while he drafted a message of his own.

"Good morning, Heron," yelled out Jack pleasantly as he crossed the short distance between them and came to a stop at the table.

Heron looked up at him with a warm smile. "Good morning to you as well, Commander. Is it our meeting time already? Time surely flies when you're busy."

Jack grinned. "I've found that to hold true myself when I'm locked away in my quarters and responding to reports. Did you sleep well?"

"Not so bad, I suppose," answered Heron. "Anyway, I'm glad you're here early. I want to know what you think about this."

The king handed over the note he'd just drafted into Jack's hands. Jack quickly scanned the message, noting its intent and smiled genuinely once he was finished. "I think that's a great idea, Heron. It's fitting."

The note itself was a series of orders to take into possession the four remaining ships of Daimanos' fleet. Jack had seen the ships on the first day he arrived in Sorella, their grand possession marking his introductory meeting with Daimanos. Since then, they'd played little role in his time on the island, with Daimanos leaving them in his capitol when he went into the battle that took his life. Since then, they'd remained unmanned in the harbor, with most of their crews having fled when Jack and Heron took the town. With the war being over and with Heron's own fleet having long since been destroyed, the king was planning to take the ships and use them as a reconstitution of his own fleet. But it was the intended name of the largest ship, Daimanos' former flagship, that had brought the smile to Jack's lips.

"I think your daughter would be well-pleased to have the namesake," said Jack, referencing the name of the new ship, the Hera.

Heron's face changed to a sad smile. "I still miss her. There's not a minute that goes by that I don't think of my daughter, my son, and my wife. Theo and my wife have been gone for so long that their pain has dulled with time. It still hurts but I don't feel it as prominently as I once did. Hera's memory still burns just as badly as it did on that tragic day."

Jack nodded, remembering the day he spoke of, when they had repelled the East Sorellan soldiers from Heron's city. That day changed the tide of the war, yet it wasn't without its own losses. He could still see the grieving king holding his lifeless daughter in his arms, completely devastated at losing another loved one.

"I know I can never replace her. But I hope having the ship named in her memory will allow me to remember all that was great about her spirit," said Heron.

"It's a great idea, Heron," said Jack. "I'm sure she'd be happy with the honor."

Heron took a deep breath and then started to chuckle. "She'd probably tell me not to waste my time with it, if we're being honest. Hera didn't have a mind for military things. Now, Elektra. She would love having her own ship. As long as it was the mightiest one afloat with the most guns."

Jack started to laugh. "Well, you do have three other ships ready to sail. Perhaps you just found your name for the second one as well?"

Heron grinned. "I think you're right, Jack. Remind me to tell her about that later. Sometimes a father needs all the ammunition he can get when it comes to a headstrong daughter."

"Something that makes me happy that I don't have kids yet," said Jack with a chuckle. "I do remember the hell my sister and I put our parents through. Nothing malicious, of course. Just kids being kids, but still, I don't think I'll like it too much when the shoe is on the other foot."

Heron laughed. "Just wait, Jack. It won't be too long until you have rebellious teenagers around, and you'll wonder why you so quickly went from hero dad to lame dad in the blink of an eye."

The two men chuckled to themselves for several moments as they were soon joined by two more people at the table. Jack nodded to Nikias as the pleasant-faced minister took his seat with the rest of them, his face looking suspicious as he watched the well-timed laughter between the two of them. Elektra was the other person, her face showing much the same expression as she took her seat to the right of her father.

"What are you talking about, father?" she asked while her gaze darted back and forth between Jack and Heron.

Heron smiled and touched her hand. "It's of no consequence, my dear. Someday, we'll talk more about it."

She gave him a weird look but said no more as the four of them planned to start their intended meeting. Heron was the one to officially open up the gathering and rose to stand.

"Thank you all for joining me," he said while opening up his arms. "As you know from yesterday, we face a grave problem that will need all of us to come up with the proper solution. Of course, I mean the issue of the stolen treasury by my brother's former minister, Barak. As if the man's crime wasn't dastardly enough, his latest intentions are no better. Barak plans to steal the treasure from the great Temple of Malicoe and make off with its sacred contents. We must stop this man, protect the sacred treasure, and recover the treasury of my brother. We're here today to figure out what we must do."

With that, Heron took his seat and waved his hands to the rest of them in an effort to start the deliberation.

Nikias was the first to speak. "Your Majesty, I think the solution to this is simple. Barak and his gang of thugs will use force to make their way across our war-torn island and steal the treasure. We must respond with force. We should send the army to the temple, kill Barak and his henchman, and take what is rightfully ours. No matter how many criminals or mercenaries he may have, they won't be able to stand up to the army."

Heron nodded. "This is the obvious choice. Our army, while drastically weakened by the war, is now the only professional force left on the island. As long as Barak is still on the island, he'll be threatened by that potential force."

Elektra spoke up next. "I'm inclined to agree with Nikias as well. The army is the obvious choice and won't leave many options for Barak. I'm in agreement with that plan."

As soon as she fell silent, their three heads turned to look at Jack, who was pondering the use of the army against another plan that might be more effective.

"Heron, how far away is your army currently? We left most of the men at the fort after battle while we sailed straight here. Are they getting close to the city?"

Heron nodded. "By the latest reports, they should be here in two days. We'd have to delay our start until they arrived and were outfitted for the journey, of course."

"So maybe set out on the third day, if we're lucky?" asked Jack.

Heron nodded solemnly.

Jack looked up, trying to do the math in his head. "How far away did you say the Temple is?"

Nikias looked down at a report in front of him and read the numbers off. "It's about forty leagues. It's rather close to the center of the entire island."

Jack began to do the math in his head. "So Barak already has about three days lead on us. Four if you count today. He won't be moving quickly with the wagon loaded down with the treasury, and he'll face slow going once he gets to the foothills with getting that heavy load up the mountain."

"He won't be any slower than we'd be with all those soldiers," added Heron.

Jack tapped the table. "Precisely. We're already behind him, and this plan won't do us any good at closing the distance."

Elektra looked at him with one eyebrow raised. "What are you suggesting, Jack?"

Jack leaned back in his chair. "A light force. No more than a few people. Able to cross the distances much more quickly and one that can leave immediately. We can travel light, but with our firepower, we can be more than a striking force to handle anything that Barak can throw at us."

Heron gave him a shrewd look. "It's not that safe out there now, Jack. I'm getting reports of roving bands of my brother's former soldiers, a good portion of them raping and pillaging at will. Most of them are hungry and willing to attack to take what they need. Wouldn't it be wiser to wait for the army?"

"Perhaps," answered Jack. "But it also lets Barak keep all this distance between us. If we can make good use of our time and travel light, we may be able to catch him just after he arrives at the temple. He'll need time to load up this sacred treasure, right? I'm assuming there's a lot there, right?"

Both Nikias and Heron looked at each other. "No one's really quite sure what's in there. The inner chamber of the temple hasn't been opened in some time. There could be a small treasure chest of gold or enough artifacts to fill this very palace. We're not quite sure."

Jack shrugged. "I'm assuming any place named as a sacred treasure wouldn't just be a simple chest filled with gold coins. There's got to be more to this. He'll need time to load it up as well as more wagons. That's not mentioning the gold he already has. Once he gets there, and we can close the gap, he'll be in a vulnerable spot for us to attack him."

Heron began to wag his finger. "That's not a bad plan. My primary concern is making sure he doesn't get off the island or else we'd never be able to track him down. If we can catch up to him a long way from the coast, we might have a chance."

"What about the army, though?" asked Elektra. "What should we have them do?"

"That's simple," answered Jack. "We send every contingent we have to the major ports. If we fail to catch up to Barak, hopefully their presence at the ports will help deter them. I'm sure Nikias can have someone put together a sketch of the minister and what to look for right?"

Nikias nodded quickly. "Definitely. You don't forget that face any time soon."

"I'm afraid we won't have that many troops to station at each port," said Heron. "There are a lot of fishing villages on the north side of the island. Quiet towns that you can make a stealthy escape from. If we garrison all of them, we won't have many men left."

"You can use the Marines we have to help augment your force," offered Jack. "All we really need is to scare them a little. Even if there's a little extra force in each town, they may think twice if they know someone is looking for them explicitly."

"Okay, I like that idea," said Heron before looking at Nikias and Elektra. "What do you two think?"

"I'm in," said Nikias. "We'll have to choose the right people for the journey—people with battle experience to tackle anything that might come at us, but I like the idea better than waiting for the army."

Heron then turned to his daughter. "And you, my dear?"

Elektra looked back to him proudly. "I'm on board with the idea. As long as I can go with the expedition."

Heron shook his head quickly. "This plan is a good one but a potentially dangerous one. I don't want you in harm's way. You're all I have left."

Elektra reached out and touched her father's hand again. "I'll be in good hands, father. If we assemble a powerful but small team, I'll be perfectly safe. Besides, you forget that I'm a great shot as well, so the team was designed for someone like me in mind."

Jack was the next to speak. "She's not wrong, Heron." His response earned a shocked look from the king but also a quiet smile of appreciation from the princess. "I've seen her with a rifle and she's an excellent shot. If we send her with one of our assault rifles, she'll be a deadly force."

"But it's still not safe," protested Heron. "Anything could happen out there!"

She turned to face him and grabbed his other hand. "But I want to do my part, Papa. Let me be part of this force and let me do something good for Sorella. All our country has known is misfortune lately. Let me try to fix that balance, okay?"

Heron looked on with weary and watery eyes. "Is there nothing I could say to make you change your mind?"

Elektra shook her head from side to side.

"Even if I commanded you not to go?" he offered weakly.

She wiped a stray tear from his cheek. "It's the right thing to do, Papa. You know that as well as I do. How many times have I heard you talk about duty? Our duty to our people? We owe it to the Sorellan people to stop this man and recover their treasure. We owe it to them to rebuild our shattered home."

Heron took several, deep breaths before finally giving the smallest of nods. "If you're going, then I'm going with you."

It was now Elektra's turn to vehemently object. "But father, it won't be safe for you either. You're not much of a shot with a rifle and not to mention, you're the king!"

"I'll be perfectly safe by my daughter's side," he said with a warm smile. "And it will be good for me to get out and let the people see their king. While most of the countryside is in ruins, there are still good people out there. People that will need hope. I can provide that while the rest of the group keeps me safe."

Elektra nodded reluctantly. "Just don't get too far away from me," she said quietly.

"I'll go as well," volunteered Nikias. "I know this area of the island better than all of you. I'll be able to pick the best routes to Mount Tarpeious and hopefully get us hot on the trail of Barak."

Heron smiled. "You're not much of a shot either, Nikias. We can't all rely on Elektra's good shooting skills."

"Nor will you have to," interrupted Jack. "I'll go. As well as Greg too. Both of us are especially deadly with a rifle, and we can help to keep everyone safe."

Heron held up his hands. "Jack, are you sure that's wise? I'm not doubting your marksmanship, but you were just so grievously wounded not long ago. Is your body prepared for that kind of journey?"

"I'm doing a lot better. I wouldn't offer if I didn't think I could take it," said Jack with a small smile. "Besides, doing something like this will force my body to heal fully."

"We should be able to ride for the first day or so," added Nikias. "We'll have to ditch the horses once we get to the foothills of the mountains, but if we can ride, we'll catch up to him sooner. Plus I'm sure it will be good for Jack as well."

"What about your ships, Jack?" asked Heron. "What will you do with them while you are on this journey with us?"

"We'll send them back to your capitol," said Jack. "I intend to make use of your dry docks while we can. I sent back a request to our admiralty for a supply ship to come to your city with some of the raw materials we can use. If you can spare some of your engineers, perhaps we can get a lot of the repair work done."

Heron nodded excitedly. "Of course, the facilities are yours to use as you like. Can I make one request though as an ally?"

"What's that, Heron?"

"On these supply ships, can you send us any grain stores you might have? We could surely use the help until our lands are producing once again."

Jack grinned. "Believe it or not, that was part of my original request. They'll send all that they can part with to be used for your people."

Heron looked personally elated. "That would be much appreciated, my friend."

Jack nodded to the king before continuing. "Once they arrive at your city, I'll direct my ship commanders to get the repairs underway. I'm hoping we won't need to use up your docks for too long. Of course, any repairs that we can't fix, we'll have to send back to our base at Quiller's Cove," said Jack.

Heron held up his hands. "Use the docks as much as you need. With the ships that we've requisitioned here, I won't have a need for the larger docks any time soon."

"What about supplies and provisions for our own journey?" asked Elektra. "What do we need and how long will we have to travel to get there?"

"I'm running the calculations right now," said Nikias as he jotted down several notes on a piece of paper in front of him. "If we're able to use the horses as long as we can, it will take us about . . . eight days to get there."

"Eight days is a long time," said Heron. "A lot can happen in eight days."

"And that's just to get there," said Jack. "Nikias can we assume about an equal amount of time to return back to Heron's city after we reach the temple?"

Nikias thought about it for a moment before answering. "More or less. The country on the other side of the mountain is flatter and more suitable for riding. If we can arrange to have horses meet us on the other side, we could probably even decrease that time."

"So basically, we have about two weeks of provisions we'll need. Enough food and supplies for five people as well as whatever we can bring for the horses until we're forced to give them up," said Jack.

"The big question to that is how soon we can get the needed supplies. How soon can we leave for the journey with everything we need?" asked Elektra.

"Most of the stores in the palace were raided before we arrived," said Heron. "There isn't much here. I'm sure rummaging around for supplies will help us but we may fall short on basic food provisions if we do."

"Then we'll have to make do with what we can requisition from the ships," said Jack. "I have enough stores onboard, and with our supply ship soon to be inbound, we won't be in danger of taking too much."

"If you can supply the food, we'll take care of the horses," said Nikias. "There's still plenty in the city, and we can spend some coin to borrow them for what we'll need."

"It sounds like we have just about everything," said Heron finally. "Are we all in agreement to gather what we can today, and we'll leave at first light tomorrow?"

The king smiled as three heads began to nod right back to him. "Good," said Heron. "Let's get this meeting adjourned so that we can start working on our tasks. Nikias, if you'll work on the horses, that would be terrific. Elektra, I'll ask you to rummage any provisions you can that are still left in the palace. Jack, let's bring what you can from the ships to the palace. And for myself, I'll draft up orders to connect your ships with my chief engineer back in my capitol for your needed repairs."

"That sounds great," said Jack with a genuine grin. "Let's get moving here soon."

They all stood up at once and shortly thereafter, both Nikias and Elektra were filtering out in opposite directions to start their own tasks. Jack was slower to get moving due to his wound, but it only afforded time for Heron to speak with him again.

"This will promise to be quite the adventure from what it sounds like," said the king with a childish grin. "I haven't been to that temple since I was a boy. My father used to tell stories about it. All the stories of the ancient gods and the first Sorellans. The temple featured prominently in many of those stories."

"And to think," said Jack before crossing his arms. "If we can really stop Barak, someday they might tell stories of the wise king Heron and the way he rebuilt his country after a long, devastating war."

Heron began to laugh heartily. "Wise king, eh? You sure you got the right man? Sometimes, I feel most like a doddering, old fool instead of an intelligent sovereign."

"I think that's the very factor that makes you a good king, Heron. Your modesty is well-suited for this position as the father of your people. Daimanos never seemed to understand that."

"There was much that escaped my brother," said Heron with a nod. "My hope is that this treasury is the last thing to escape from him."

Jack smiled, and with one final nod to the king, he turned to begin his trek back down to the Destiny. He wasn't halfway across the floor when Heron called back out to him.

"You know, I wanted to show you all that I could about my homeland," said Heron. "The great interior, the scenery, the people—all of it. I do wish it would have been under different circumstances though. I'm almost afraid to see the firsthand effects of the war on the countryside."

Jack turned to face the king. "The important thing is that it can be rebuilt. We can make Sorella a great land once more. I'll do all that I can to help you, Heron."

The king smiled warmly. "Thank you, Jack."

Jack had no sooner turned to exit the grand hallway when another voice pierced across the marbled walls.

“Sir, wait! Wait for me, sir, please!”

Jack came to a full stop as soon as he recognized the voice. He planted his foot and spun around to face the newcomer, only to be greeted by the sight of Vera, one of members of Daimanos’ harem.

The blonde woman came bounding across the floor to him, her pace only slowing down once she nearly reached him. Vera was quite a lovely-looking girl, having delicate, golden-blonde hair that went just past her shoulders and smooth alabaster skin. Her bright blue eyes were full of trust, and despite the awkwardness of Jack’s encounters with her, he found it hard not to enjoy the girl’s company when she was around.

As a member of Daimanos’ harem, she had been secreted away in a closed off portion of the palace that was only accessible by moving past a false wall. Knowledge of the harem was supposed to be kept private to Daimanos and his most trusted ministers yet his flagrant request for the whores around any time day or night meant the harem was more or less an open secret.

Thankfully, she was now dressed a bit more modestly than the day they found her. Due to Daimanos’ personal tastes, most of the women were only clothed in what could only be called see-through rags, designed to showcase their subservience while also highlighting their features. And Vera had many features to highlight. Jack had nearly wallowed in guilt at the first sight of her impressive bust line and her casual nonchalance about being so exposed to so many eyes.

Unfortunately, that was something that she had come to live with due to being in the harem, but it meant they had to go to lengths to find clothing that would fit the women once again and give them back a degree of modesty. For that reason, Vera now wore a simple Sorellan gray tunic that still emphasized her femininity but offered her a much higher degree of privacy. Jack much preferred to deal with her fully clothed even if a tiny part of him enjoyed seeing the girl’s body.

“Good morning, Vera,” said Jack with a kind smile. “I thought I asked you to stop calling me sir?”

Vera finally reached him and bowed her head with an embarrassed look. Part of what made their relationship awkward was the fact that she had first thought he was Heron during her release and had addressed him as your majesty. She had been particularly confused when he explained his true role as a naval commander and still insisted on calling him sir, despite him asking her to stop with it several times already.

“I’m sorry . . . Jack,” said Vera, carefully saying his name like it was the first time it passed her lips. “I guess it’s just hard for me to use just your first name.”

Jack smiled. “You’ll get used to it in time. Did you sleep okay last night?”

Vera nodded excitedly. “It was wonderful! I haven’t slept in a proper bed in ages. Those quarters that Heron set us up in were just fantastic. I slept like a baby!”

Jack chuckled at her enthusiasm. Initially, the members of the harem had requested to transfer their status from Daimanos to Heron and serve as his own personal concubines. What they hadn’t counted on was that Heron was a much different type of king from his brother and flat out refused their request on the spot. Instead, he promised to shelter them until they were ready to rejoin society on their own terms, effectively putting an end to their status as whores.

To that end, he put each of them into their own room throughout the palace as one of his own guests. For the girls, it was quite the difference from the cramped cellar they had previously. Jack knew exactly the condition of the rooms in the palace, having stayed here one night during their previous stay with Daimanos.

“I was always preferential to the bath myself,” said Jack with a smile, remembering his night in the palace room and the luxurious bathing tubs within.

Vera assumed a dreamy look. “I must have stayed in mine for nearly an hour last night. It felt like I could finally scrub away all the nastiness of being in the cellar. It almost reminded me of my old life.”

“Old life?” asked Jack. “I suppose we never really discussed it, but what was your life like before Daimanos? Have you been here long?”

Vera shook her head. “Not long really. It’s only been about a month since I was purchased from the slavers.”

“Slavers?” asked Jack in shock. “How did you end up in the possession of slavers?”

The smile dropped from Vera’s face and she turned away from him. “It’s a rather long story, sir—I mean, Jack.”

“Tell me. I want to know.”

Vera turned back to face him. “Where to even begin?” She took a deep breath before continuing once again. “First of all, I suppose you can tell that I’m not a native Sorellan?”

Jack’s eyes flickered to her hair and then back to her face. “The thought had occurred to me. Your light features really stand out here compared to the rest of the people.”

Vera eagerly nodded. “That’s because I’m Galician, not Sorellan.”

Jack’s eyebrows raised as he once again took a once-over on the bright-eyed girl in front of him. Having heard all about the Galicians from Heron, he now finally had one right in front of him.

“Galician?” Jack asked. “Heron has told me about your people. I’m afraid I hadn't heard much about you until the king told me much about your land and your recent history.”

Vera nodded solemnly. “Galicia isn’t really that great of a place anymore. It’s all I’ve ever known, and it was better than being a whore, but my grandmother used to tell me about the old days of Galicia. Back when there was still a king. Anyway, time hasn’t been kind to us.”

“So how did you end up with the slavers? Captured, I take it?”

Vera nodded. “I suppose the story starts with my father. He was a merchant and he owned a small ship that used to take his wares throughout the Vector. Some of my earliest memories as a girl was waiting for father to come back from one of his trips. We never had much but he used to always bring something back for me. One time he brought me an ornate doll from the lands of Picardy to the northeast. It was one of my most cherished possessions, that is, until the fire.”

“Fire? What fire?” asked Jack.

Vera assumed a painful expression. “My mother and my sister. There was an accident at our home one day. Unfortunately, the fire spread quickly, and they were unable to get out in time.”

“I’m sorry, Vera,” said Jack, reaching out to comfort the young woman.

Vera wiped a tear from her eye. “Fortunately, father was home from one of his trips. And I was in school. Afterwards, all our possessions were just gone—devastated from the fire. So father took me with him on his trips. It was something to get used to initially. I was terribly seasick at first and to this day, the rocking of the waves still makes me somewhat nauseous. But I got the hang of it. And I got to spend so much more time with him as we traveled to different lands and islands.”

“I’m sure he appreciated the time spent with you too,” said Jack with a sad smile. “Since it was just the two of you.”

Vera nodded. “I really liked that time spent with him. We sailed for years together, him and I and a few hired hands. That is, until a few months ago.”

“What happened then?”

Vera let out a heavy breath. “The storm. We got caught in a storm not far from here actually. It came on us quickly and before we knew it, we really couldn’t get out of it. It completely destroyed the ship. As far as I know, I’m the only one that washed up alive on shore.”

Jack put his arm around the girl. To be so young and to have lost all of her immediate family was a tragic way to begin your life. Vera buried her face in his shoulder, nuzzling against his jacket. For a few moments, he just held her, hoping that she felt some semblance of comfort that had so long been denied to her. Finally, she pulled away to look at him.

“Even though I was alive, I had the misfortune of washing ashore in Andalucia.”

Jack straightened visibly. “Andalucia? Those are the slavers, aren’t they?”

She nodded. “Yes. They found me on the beach, nearly dead. I don’t have many memories of the next few days but needless to say, they were able to keep me alive. As soon as I was well enough to stand, they sent me to the slave pens.” Vera shuddered against him.

“I can’t imagine what that was like.”

“It was awful, Jack,” she said while looking up at him. “It made the cellar under the palace look like some sort of resort. The pens were terribly dirty, and the smell was just awful. The type of smell that always attracted flies and other vermin. And it was always so hot. Andalucia is mostly desert and the temperatures there are always scorching, even during the night. It was the worst experience of my life. Even the people there were in a miserable state. Most of them there for no fault of their own other than the fact that they were on the wrong side of a war or had no one to protect them. It was just tragic, Jack."

"How did you end up in Sorella, Vera? What happened?"

Her chin raised slightly. "I was sold by the clan that captured me. A Sorellan trader under the employ of Daimanos grabbed me and another girl after spotting us. I didn't know it at the time, but most of the girls came from the Andalucian slavers. It seems the late king enjoyed a bit of variety in his whores."

At that last sentence, Vera's head fell in shame. Shame at being reduced to someone's plaything, only to be summoned at will and discarded just as easily. Jack made a gesture to force her to look back upon his face.

"You're no longer a whore, Vera. That life for you is over," said Jack. "You have a chance to start over."

She looked up at him. "I know. I just forgot what it's like to see kindness again. After the ordeal with the slavers and being around Daimanos." Vera shuddered. "The things that he made me do . . ."

". . . were things you'll no longer have to do again," Jack finished. "Heron has opened his house to you. He'll help you get back on your feet. And get you back to Galicia."

Vera began to shake her head. "I don't want to go back to Galicia. At least, not right now."

Jack frowned. "Why not? It's your home after all, and you haven't been there in so long. Why wouldn't you want to go back?"

"It's my home, yes, but there's no one left for me there now," said Vera. "Everyone that I called family is now dead. If I were to go back to Galicia, I'd still be alone."

To that, Jack had no answer. Vera's words made sense, and it was something even he'd felt himself when his parents died. The only one back in Java that he had to call family was his sister. Though he deeply loved Jocelyn, if that tie no longer existed, he couldn't say he'd be in any hurry to go home either.

Vera locked eyes on him. "I want to stay with you, Jack. I don't want to go anywhere else but with you."

Jack's face contorted into a look of shock. "With me? But why?"

"There's something about you that I can't quite understand. Your aura is so bright, Jack. You're a special person, I can just feel it. And you saved me from Daimanos. In a way, you're like the closest thing to family I have now," said Vera.

Jack smiled gently. "Vera, Heron was the one who saved you from Daimanos. This is his land, and he's the one who gave you your freedom back."

Vera shook her head fiercely. "No, Heron is only here because you're the one who killed Daimanos. I heard the chatter around the palace about your personal battle with the man. Nothing would have changed with my condition had it not been for you."

"Vera," started Jack while grabbing her hands. "I'm an officer in the Javan navy. The life I live is complicated, and now it's about to be even more so with us being at war. It wouldn't be safe to have you with me. You've already had to deal with so much tragedy that entangling yourself with me would only invite further trouble."

"I don't care about that, Jack," said Vera with another shake of the head. "Besides, I want to come with you to take back the stolen treasury."

Jack grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to a quiet corner. His voice barely above a whisper, he said, "How do you know about that? Only the king and a few others are supposed to know about the treasury."

Vera shrugged. "I overheard Heron talking about something missing to Nikias yesterday. They thought I was already gone but I lingered in the hallway before going back to my quarters. I overheard everything, Jack. That's where you're going soon, aren't you? You're going to take back the treasury from Barak?"

"There seems to be more to you than meets the eye, Vera," said Jack with a disapproving stare.

She shrank back from him. "Don't be upset with me, please? I just overheard that tiny portion, and then my curiosity got the better of me."

"We have a saying about curiosity in my part of the world," said Jack. "And it's not a good one."

Vera smiled. "As do we Galicians."

"Vera, the trip we're going on will be exceptionally dangerous," warned Jack. "There's still bands of roving soldiers in the interior. Most of them are Daimanos' men, and they are still armed. They will be low on coin and probably hungry too, which will make them even more desperate."

"Jack, all of my family is dead. All of them tragically and I've been nothing more than a whore for the past five weeks," said Vera with a pointed glare. "What more could anyone do to me that I haven't seen already?"

"Plenty," huffed Jack. "Those soldiers are going to be desperate for more than just food. A pretty little thing like you would be passed around like a pipe if we fail."

Vera gave him a determined smile. "Then we shouldn't fail, right?"

Jack raised his eyebrows. "Vera, it's too dangerous for you. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you out there."

"I know the interior. I've been there before," she said quietly. "My father used to trade here years ago. I can help guide you. I know some of the roads!"

"So does Nikias," said Jack. "He'll be able to guide us along the proper routes to help us catch Barak as fast as we can. Besides, you'd just be another mouth to feed, and we don't have much in the way of provisions. It's just not a good idea, Vera."

"What if I provide my own provisions?" asked the determined blonde.

"How would you do that?"

"Follow me," she instructed before leading him deeper into the palace. Jack took a deep breath and followed, walking alongside her as she quickly moved along the halls. Soon enough, he figured out she was taking him back down into the cellar, where the harem had been located, and she removed the portion of the false wall to continue forward unimpeded. Finally, she came upon what was a tiny storage room just before they reached the main sleeping quarters of the harem.

"Over here," said Vera with a wave, before coming to what had been a supply cabinet for the nearby palace kitchens. Vera opened one of the shelves, revealing an empty space inside.

"There's nothing there, Vera," said Jack with a frown.

"Keep watching," she said while she pulled the shelf out of place and revealed a tiny hidden compartment within. Vera rummaged around inside and began to pull out some extra provisions. The first thing she pulled out was a half-eaten loaf of bread, quickly depositing it in Jack's hand. After that came the jars, small and unopened containers of foods that wouldn't spoil and as well as several other creations that indicated a well-stocked supply.

"How did you get all of this, Vera?" Jack asked.

"Most of it was given to me for rations, but I didn't eat it," she said with a shy look. "Food was always scarce and there was always little of it to go around for the whores. When I was sold to Daimanos, I was a little heavier than I am now, so I decided to store food when I could just in case there came a day when there was none. I can bring this as my contribution."

"Still, that's one facet," said Jack. "There are other considerations."

"I can also cook for all of you," interrupted Vera. "I can tend the fire at night. I can take care of the horses as well, for the first part of the journey. I know you are taking the horses. I may not be good with a gun, but there are other ways I can help you, Jack. I did this for my father, and I learned many things about taking care of a large group. I can be helpful to you—just let me show you."

Jack opened his mouth to fight but found himself closing it. The determined look on her face was back, and she soon perched her hands on her hips and nearly glared at him.

"Don't say anything more, Jack, please," she said while holding her hands up. "I'm coming with you even if I have to run alongside your horses all the way there."

With his will crumbling, Jack brought his hand to his jaw and just stared at the girl dumbfounded. "Why do you want to come with us so badly?"

Vera lowered her hands. "I just think I'm supposed to be in this with you, Jack. I can't explain it. I feel very strongly that I need to come with you."

"It's not going to be easy," he warned one last time.

Vera smiled. "Neither was being a whore."

Jack cracked a smile. "You're made of tough stuff, aren't you, Vera? I can't quite figure you out but you're one determined girl."

"I've been through a lot, Jack," she said quietly. "This doesn't seem so bad in comparison to what I've already been through."

"I do think it will come in handy to have you there just to help us the way you described. Just about all of us are too used to giving orders and having them followed," said Jack candidly. "Perhaps with you along, we won't start bickering the first night about who needs to do all the cooking over the fire."

Vera giggled. "So we're in agreement then?"

Jack nodded. "We are. Come, let's tell Heron. We'll need to secure an extra horse for you."

The two of them left the cellar behind and once again traveled along the main halls of the palace back to the marbled meeting hall. Heron was once again at his deliberation table and working feverishly on a written order in front of him. It was only once they got close enough that he raised his head and smiled at the two of them.

"Ah, Vera, so nice to see you again," said the king with a fatherly smile. "I trust your stay here has been well so far?"

Vera grinned. "It's been terrific, Your Majesty."

"So we better find another horse for our journey," said Jack while watching the king. "Vera will be joining us."

Jack watched as Heron's face contorted to an expression of shock for a brief moment as his gaze darted back and forth between them. Finally, he settled on Vera.

"Are you sure about this, Vera? This won't be an easy journey."

She quickly nodded her head. "Jack and I have already discussed it at length, Your Majesty. He found my argument quite persuasive." Vera finished with a beaming grin before shooting it Jack's way.

Jack gave a slight nod of the head. "She has her own provisions that she can bring along. She'll also help us when it comes to making camp each night."

Heron thought it over for a few moments before nodding. "If this is what you want, child, then who am I to deny you?"

Vera beamed once more and began to hop up and down. "Thank you both! I won't disappoint you, I promise!"

"We leave at first light, Vera," said Heron. "Please have your provisions prepared and meet here at dawn for our departure."

"Of course! Absolutely, Your Majesty!" She quickly gave a clumsy curtsy before disappearing down the hallway back to her quarters. Once she was finally gone, Heron settled his gaze on Jack.

"An odd girl, that one," he noted while pointing his pen in her direction.

"That she is indeed. I can't say I've ever met many like her," said Jack. "She did say she's Galician though."

Heron nodded. "I suspected as much when I saw her features. Then again, it could explain her behavior. They're an odd people, that's for sure."

Jack thought back to their discussion about them before nodding in agreement. "I may need your help once we arrive back in your capitol. She seems to be quite attached to me. The Destiny is no place for a civilian girl, no matter how tough. She should stay here and learn to get her life back together."

"Attached to you, eh?" said Heron with an innocent grin. "Perhaps she just has a little crush on you, Commander? Maybe she likes a man in uniform?"

Jack smiled. "I'm not getting that kind of vibe from her. Not that I'm ruling it out, but there seems to be something else. Something I'm not seeing just yet."

"You do have those mighty ships in the harbor. Perhaps she wants to stay with you because she sees you as her ticket to go home," offered Heron. "Maybe she just needs your help?"

"If that's the case, then we'll help her. She's a kind soul who's suffered much in her short life so far," said Jack. "I feel very protective over her already." Jack finished by giving Heron the brief version of her story over the last several months.

Heron visibly shuddered at the end. "To still be that kind and full of life after coming from the Andalucian slave pens must mean she's built of strong stuff. I've seen many a strong man completely broken by the slavers. It's not a life I'd like to see anyone thrown into."

"Perhaps she'll end up surprising us," said Jack with a smile.

"I can live with that," said Heron with a chuckle. "As long as she's the one doing the surprising and not Barak."

"We shall see," said Jack. "I'm going to head down to the ships now and brief my officers. Send word if you need anything?"

"Will do, Jack," said Heron with a wave as he resumed his paperwork.