James E. Carter
James wiped the sweat from his brow with a quick swipe of his gloved hand, his muscles aching from the constant cranking and maneuvering alongside Christina. The lift cells were filled, and the ship was finally ready to rise, but the urgency in the air hadn’t diminished. He heard the distant shout from the gondola, Andreaou’s voice cutting through the din.
James exhaled sharply, tossing the heavy gloves aside. "Christina, engines!" he barked, his voice firm and clear. "Get them running now, we’re outta time!" Without waiting for a reply, he turned and began descending from the airship’s interior back out into the gondola, his boots clanging against the ladder rungs.
As he entered the gondola, James saw Andreaou rallying a few others while Zoe leaned against the ship’s wheel, looking far too casual for comfort.
"Won’t be necessary," James said as he strode past her, his voice carrying a mix of determination and exhaustion. He gestured toward the controls. "I’ll take it from here." He stepped up to the ship’s wheel, giving it a quick once-over. The setup was unfamiliar, larger and more intricate than the airships he was used to, but the principles were the same or at least he hoped they were.
"Alright," James muttered to himself, gripping the wheel. He scanned the gauges and levers, quickly piecing together their purpose. "Let’s get this bird moving." He pulled back on one lever to engage the lift and adjusted another to stabilize the buoyancy. The ship groaned in protest as it began to rise, the hiss of pneumatics and the roar of gas filling the gondola.
The ground below began to fall further away now and James felt a pang of relief, though he kept his focus sharp. "Zoe," he called over his shoulder, "you and anyone who’s not a fighter, make yourselves useful. Spot for obstacles, check for leaks, anything that looks like it could go wrong. If you’re not sure, just yell. It’s better than sitting around."
He adjusted the wheel slightly, feeling the weight of the massive vessel resist before slowly responding. The ship began to move forward, gaining momentum as its engines hummed to life. James couldn’t help but let out a breath of relief, though he knew this was just the beginning.
"Keep it steady," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else, "We’re not outta this yet."
James wiped the sweat from his brow with a quick swipe of his gloved hand, his muscles aching from the constant cranking and maneuvering alongside Christina. The lift cells were filled, and the ship was finally ready to rise, but the urgency in the air hadn’t diminished. He heard the distant shout from the gondola, Andreaou’s voice cutting through the din.
Arkadios Andreaou
As another line fell slack and a couple of minutes later, Arkadios came scrambling back up the ladder, "Who can pilot this?"
James exhaled sharply, tossing the heavy gloves aside. "Christina, engines!" he barked, his voice firm and clear. "Get them running now, we’re outta time!" Without waiting for a reply, he turned and began descending from the airship’s interior back out into the gondola, his boots clanging against the ladder rungs.
As he entered the gondola, James saw Andreaou rallying a few others while Zoe leaned against the ship’s wheel, looking far too casual for comfort.
Zoe Spyrou
Zoe looked alarmed, then nodded, stepping over the ship's wheel, casually leaning against it, "So, who is going to take the wheel?" she asked, "Or should I take it and make it up as we go along?" Arkadios was sure she was joking though she sounded serious. He hoped she was joking at any rate.
"Won’t be necessary," James said as he strode past her, his voice carrying a mix of determination and exhaustion. He gestured toward the controls. "I’ll take it from here." He stepped up to the ship’s wheel, giving it a quick once-over. The setup was unfamiliar, larger and more intricate than the airships he was used to, but the principles were the same or at least he hoped they were.
"Alright," James muttered to himself, gripping the wheel. He scanned the gauges and levers, quickly piecing together their purpose. "Let’s get this bird moving." He pulled back on one lever to engage the lift and adjusted another to stabilize the buoyancy. The ship groaned in protest as it began to rise, the hiss of pneumatics and the roar of gas filling the gondola.
The ground below began to fall further away now and James felt a pang of relief, though he kept his focus sharp. "Zoe," he called over his shoulder, "you and anyone who’s not a fighter, make yourselves useful. Spot for obstacles, check for leaks, anything that looks like it could go wrong. If you’re not sure, just yell. It’s better than sitting around."
He adjusted the wheel slightly, feeling the weight of the massive vessel resist before slowly responding. The ship began to move forward, gaining momentum as its engines hummed to life. James couldn’t help but let out a breath of relief, though he knew this was just the beginning.
"Keep it steady," he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else, "We’re not outta this yet."