[OL-5] Departure from the Southern Isle

[Franco Clarke]

As the wreckage of the final raider slipped below the waters of the lagoon, Erwin panted to regain his breath. He couldn't quite believe that they had actually managed to win and secure the island. He turned to his crew who were still chanting and cheering. However, although the crew had miraculously come through mostly unscathed, Stingray wasn't quite so lucky. She creaked horrendously in the light breeze, and the rigging and sails were in tatters. But ships could be repaired, and they could stay in the sheltered lagoon until they were fit to return to civilisation.

A shockwave suddenly smashed into Stingray's side, knocking everyone off their feet. Erwin's head smashed into the hard decking, sending his vision spinning. Then an ear piercing sound tore through the air, like the sound of wrenching metal. The stern lanterns shattered, spraying shards of glass in every direction.  Erwin crawled to what remained of the rails and hauled himself upright. What had that been. Then another shockwave hit the ship, and Erwin only managed to stay upright by griping the rail with all his strength. A section of the mountain cracked and then crumbled into the sea, sending a wall of water across the lagoon that washed Stingray dangerously close to the cliffs and the rocks.

'Drop the anchor now before we get wrecked by another wave like that!' Erwin practically screamed.

There was a splash as it entered the water, and not a moment too soon, as another tremor shook the vessel and a jagged rock burst through the lagoon's surface. Another screech erupted through the air and the ship was shaken once again.

'Prepare us the best you can to set sail, the island seems to be tearing itself apart!' Erwin ordered, signalling to some of the men to help him lower the boat, 'We need to evacuate the battery crew before the island is completely destroyed.'

The dinghy cut through the increasingly choppy waters of the lagoon as the island continued to be hit by shockwaves. The jungle was torn apart as part of the island rose up 20 studs, exposing new cliffs of razor-sharp rock.

Erwin leapt out and was already pounding up the beach as soon boat made land. He fought his way up the path to the gun battery. He almost tripped and fell as a ravine opened up beside him, but managed to regain his balance and continue further in land.

He met the gun crews racing back down towards the beach, but noticed Private Collins was not among them. He caught a sailor by the neck and screamed.

'Where is Collin???!!'

The man, obviously petrified, looked at Erwin with wild eyes and pointed back up the path.

'He's trapped, but we have to go, the devil's coming for us, help!!!'

He slipped out of Erwin's grasp and sprinted after the rest of the men who were making for the beach.  Erwin stormed further up the path and found Collins with his leg caught under a boulder.

His face filled with relief as he saw that Erwin hadn't left him behind.

'Sir you shouldn't have, you're endangering the entire ship, go now, before it's too late' Private Collins burbled.

'You can't escape me that easily' Erwin joked, as he leant his shoulder against the boulder. 

Slowly but surely it began to roll, and then it was off, crashing through the undergrowth and disappearing over a cliff. Private Collins' leg was soaked with blood and clearly broken. Erwin careful helped him to his feet and started walking with him back towards the shore.

'Tell me if we're going to fast, let's just hope the boat hasn't left,' Erwin commented, as they made their way down the path.

Private Collins didn't reply but simply gritted his teeth against the pain. They made it to the beech to find the dinghy waiting for them. Someone must have convinced the rest to wait for Collins and Erwin.  Some gunners rushed up the sand to help Collins into the boat.

Then they were off, back across the turbulent waters of the lagoon, buffeted by waves and the repeated tremors. The horrendous sound cleaved through the skies, and a plug of rock punched out of the sea, lifting the bow of a sunken Merchant Raider high into the sky. The ruined ship splinted and disintegrated, showering planks and debris all around.

Ahead Stingray was underway, slowly moving towards the wider entrance to the lagoon. Erwin felt blood trickling from his ears as they pulled up alongside Stingray. The boat was hoisted, crew and all aboard, and they sped toward open waters.

The sea ahead of them boiled and steamed, as if it were in a cauldron.  Then a razor reef erupted from the waves, like a row of titanic teeth, and blocked their path. Erwin stumbled to the wheel and hauled the ship around. In her damaged state she responded slowly, and sliding sideways through the water, she hit the wall of rock, scraping and tearing planks from her side. Erwin winced, as Stingray pulled away. He hoped she could take the damage, if they began taking on too much water, there'd be no point in trying to escape.

They headed for the narrow passage, which still had enough space for them to get through. A section of the jungle collapsed onto the ocean and water rushed over the land, snapping the palm trees as if they were matchsticks. Erwin contorted as the screech echoed across the island, and the passageway ahead of them suddenly started narrowing.

'Come-on, come-on, come-on' Erwin muttered, 'just a bit faster'

They shot into the passageway, as the cliffs either side began crushing in on them. Behind them the seabed was forced up, raising the wrecked Merchant Raider from its aquatic grave. The crew gripped onto the deck as Stingray slipped through the ravine, dodging claws of rock that grasped from the depths. The cliffs crashed together, smashing the sunken Raider, whilst Stingray plunged triumphantly from the passageway into open waters.

With a final scream the towering mountain rose still higher into the air, and then toppled sideways into the lagoon, spraying boulders into the air, some the size of houses. The remains of the island sank into depths of the ocean and then there was nothing left but a reef of clawing rocks to mark where it had been.

 

This brings the end to the tale of the Southern Isle, I hope you like it. Since the island isn't an official one, I decided it'd probably be better if I destroyed it! I apologise for the lack of photographs, it was a difficult thing to portrait, and I couldn't come up with a suitable build, so this one will have to be just a story. 

[Kolonialbeamter]

Franco, it's been a great joyride. I have really enjoyed your story, and I'm delighted to see that Erwin has made it through unscathed.

I expect him to be back in Granoleon by the 1st of January at the latest 

[Bregir]

Dramatic and fascinating story! I like your solution to the "not official island" paradox. Very creative!

And while there are only a few builds to go with this one, the story was really well written. I am happy to see both private Collins and Erwin making it out alive!

Here's to hoping you will keep telling these great stories! My only wish is, that with this storyline come to such a grand conclusion, your next will be a bit more in line with the general BoBS world. (AKA no more bashing of Corlanders or other nations with whom you are not at war! :P )

Great work!

[Franco Clarke]

On 13/12/2016 at 8:25 PM, Kolonialbeamter said:

Franco, it's been a great joyride. I have really enjoyed your story, and I'm delighted to see that Erwin has made it through unscathed.

Thank you for your compliments, it is a good thing that Erwin has an uncanny ability to survive no matter the dangers. 

On 13/12/2016 at 9:41 PM, Bregir said:

I like your solution to the "not official island" paradox. 

Here's to hoping you will keep telling these great stories! My only wish is, that with this storyline come to such a grand conclusion, your next will be a bit more in line with the general BoBS world. (AKA no more bashing of Corlanders or other nations with whom you are not at war! :P )

Thank you, I am glad you liked the ending, and didn't find it too far fetched!

I have quite a few stories lined up for next year, but I can't make any promises when it comes to Corrington, although some of the scenarios might be more reasonable.