Battle on the Southern Axis

Instructions

The Southern Axis began life innocently enough. It was built for a small Blerper shipping company as a bulk carrier, carrying limestone around. However, twenty years have passed, and the ship has now passed into uncertain ownership. Amidst the frantic search for number one most wanted Jonathan Schayr, one of his shady companies were tied back to the freighter, at the time sailing northbound from Cubertshaven. With no leads, and a trace of Blerpusdorf's biggest criminal, the government decided something was better than nothing - and pounced. It was about 1:30 AM as the ship quietly steamed northbound off the coast of Sangria, headed for Oniwarri. Then, two helicopters descended on the ship from either side. Launched from the frigate BRN Schaffel, the helicopters were loaded with small teams of Blerpusdorf's best. Without warning, they made their way onto the ship. The government had struck gold - this was Schayr's ship, the one he was currently on. His men, armed to the teeth, surrounded the entrances to the bridge, blocking it and fighting back. With assistance from the helicopters, the Blerper forces pushed forward slowly, taking a couple of casualties; but Schayr's men took more. They retreated into the superstructure, looking to lead the men into the traps of close quarters. Meanwhile, on the bridge, Schayr grit his teeth. They'd found him. There would be no deal, apparently. "Lock the doors, sound the alarms," he said with surprising calm. The captain, with concern, turned around, the wheel in one hand and a PA microphone in the other. "You sure? A surrender would be easier. We're outnumbered, outgunned, and frankly, going any further is a plain bad move." Schayr shook his head. "No, I don't need some miracle. I need time." And with that, he took off down the stairs, with a briefcase full of papers practically leaking out the seams and nothing else. After a couple more minutes of off and on attacks, the security officers surrendered begrudgingly. The bridge fell shortly after - but Schayr and Erik were nowhere to be seen. When the government forces questioned the captain, he shrugged and told them he had probably escaped already to the lifeboat deck. Meanwhile, two government men - soldiers Frietz and Bachen - ran onto the back of the ship to secure the area. They were met with two very familiar faces. There was Erik, the Grand Prince, halfway into a dinghy. His robes - whatever were left of them - were tattered, flapping in the sea breeze. And then there was Schayr. He had a weapon, and he had it pointed right at the two soldiers. "Hands up!", Frietz shouted. "Put that down and do not get into that boat!" Bachen glanced behind him to make sure there would be no sneak attack. Schayr's face was obscured by his trademark hat as always, staring down the two men. "I made a deal. I was civil. I could have gone ballistic. Now look who's escalating things?" Bachen shook his head. "Yeah, sure bud. As if you didn't just kidnap somebody!" "You're outnumbered, anyway. Don't play dumb," Frietz added. "Numbers? I only care about the numbers when they're in the profits. Look, you win this time." Schayr smirked. "But a businessman never stops pushing until all his options are exhausted." With that, he swiveled around and pointed his weapon straight at the Grand Prince. Frietz rushed forwards to apprehend the madman; Erik, taken aback by the change of plans, dashed out the dinghy as fast as he could. In the chaos, Schayr shot into the air to cause more conundrum, before jumping into the dinghy, now occupied just by him. He pulled a lever, and the dinghy dropped off the stern, into the water, before dashing off into the cold night. Erik was safe. Crisis had been averted for the meanwhile, but somewhere off the coast of Sangria, its head chief was still scheming how best to enact his revenge.