They needed to spread, because charging headlong into a fleet that size would be suicide. They needed to be the wolves hunting the great snow oxen, darting in, taking a bite here and there, wearing them down.
Akila smiled at that thought. He was almost planning as if they could win this. Whod have taken him for an optimist?
Theres so many, one of the sailors said as he passed.
Akila heard the same words from others as he clambered back to the deck. By the time he reached the command deck again, there were a dozen rebels at least, all waiting for him with worried expressions.
We cant fight them, one said.
It would be like we werent even there, another agreed.
Theyll kill us all. We have to run.
Akila could hear them. He could even understand what they wanted to do. Running made sense. Run while they still could. Form up their ships into a convoy line and go, running along the coast until they could break free and make it to Haylon.
A part of him even wanted to do it. Perhaps they would even be safe if they could get to Haylon. Felldust would see the forces they had, the defenses of their harbor, and would be wary of coming after them.
At least for a time.
Friends, he called, loud enough that everyone on the ship would be able to hear it. You can see the threat that waits for us, and yes, I can hear the men who want to run.
He spread his hands to quiet down the murmur that followed.
I know. I hear you. Ive sailed with you and youre not cowards. No man could say that you are.
But if they ran now, men would call them cowards. Akila knew that. They would blame the warriors of Haylon, in spite of all theyd done. He didnt want to say that, though. He didnt want to force his men to do this.
I want to run as well. Weve done our part. Weve beaten the Empire. Weve earned the right to go home, rather than stay here dying for other peoples causes.
That much was obvious. Theyd only come here after Thanos had begged, after all.
He shook his head. But I wont. I wont run when that means abandoning the people depending on me. I wont run when weve been told what will happen to the people of Delos. I wont run, because who are they to tell me to run?
He jabbed a finger at the advancing fleet, then turned it into the rudest gesture he could think of on the spur of the moment. That, at least, got his men laughing. Good, they needed all the laughs they could get right then.
The truth is that evil is everyones cause. A man tells me to kneel or die, then I punch him in the face! That got them laughing harder. And I dont do it because hes threatened me. I do it because the kind of man who tells people to kneel needs punching!
That one got a cheer. It seemed that Akila had judged this right. He gestured to the spot where a scout ship sat, tied up alongside his flagship.
Down there is one of us, Akila said. They took him and his crew. They whipped him until the blood poured from him. They lashed him to the wheel and they put his eyes out.
Akila waited a moment to let the horror of that sink in.
They did that because they thought it would scare us, Akila said. They did that because they thought it would make us run faster. I say that if a man harms one of my brothers like that, it makes me want to cut him down for the dog he is!
That got a cheer.
Ill not order you, though, Akila said. You want to go home well, no one can say you havent earned it. And when they come for you, maybe there will be someone left to help. He made himself shrug. Ill be staying. If needs be, Ill stay alone. Ill stand on the docks, and their army can come to me one at a time to get cut down.
He looked around them then, staring at men he knew, at brothers from Haylon and freed slaves, conscripts turned freedom fighters and men who had probably started off as little more than cutthroats.
He knew that if he asked these men to fight with him, most of them would probably die. He was probably never going to see the waterfalls that plunged through the hills of Haylon again. Hed probably die not even knowing if what he did was enough to save Delos or not. A part of him wished then that hed never met Thanos, or been dragged into this wider rebellion.
Even so, he drew himself up.
Will I be alone, lads? he asked. Will I have to punch my way to the stoniest-headed fool among them by myself?
The roar of No! echoed across the water. He hoped the enemy fleet heard it. He hoped they heard it, and he hoped they were terrified.
Gods knew he was.
Well then, lads, Akila bellowed, get to your oars. Weve a battle to win!
He saw them run to it then, and he couldnt have been more proud of them. He started to think, to give orders. There were messages to be sent back to the castle, defenses to be prepared.
Already, Akila could hear the sound of bells ringing out across the city in warning.
You two, get the signal flags up! Scirrem, I want small boats and tar for fire ships at the harbor mouth! Am I talking to myself up here?
Quite possibly, the sailor called back. They say madmen do. But Ill get it done.
You realize that in a real army, youd be flogged? Akila shot back, but he smiled as he did it. This was the strange part of being on the cusp of battle. They were so close to possible death now, and it was the moment when Akila felt most alive.
Now, Akila, the sailor said. You know theyd never let the likes of us into a real army.
Akila laughed then, and not just because it was probably true. How many generals could say that they had not just the respect of their men, but true camaraderie? How many could ask their troops to throw themselves into danger, not from loyalty, or fear, or discipline, but because it was them doing the asking? Akila felt that he could be proud of that part at least.
As the sailor rushed off, he had more orders to give.
Once were clear, well need to put the harbor chain up, he said.
One of the young sailors near him looked worried by that. Akila could see the fear there in spite of his speeches. That was only normal.
If we have the chain up, doesnt that mean we cant retreat into the harbor? the boy asked.
Akila nodded. Yes, but what good would it do, retreating to a city thats open to the sea? If we fail out there, do you think the city will be a safe place to hide?
He could see the boy thinking about it, trying to work out where he would be safest, most probably. Either that, or wishing that hed never signed up.
You can go be one of those who helps put the chains up if you want, Akila offered. Then head for the catapults. Well need good people firing them.
The boy shook his head. Ill stay. I wont run from them.
Dont suppose you fancy taking over the fleet so I can run? Akila asked.
That set the lad off laughing as he went about his duties, and laughter was always better than fear.
What else was there to do? There was always something else, always something to move to next. There were those who spoke about warfare being waiting, but Akila had found that waiting always contained a thousand smaller things. Preparation was the mother of success, and Akila wasnt going to lose for lack of effort.
No, he muttered as he checked the lines of his flagship. The part where they have five times as many ships will do that.
The only hope was to hit and move. Draw them onto the fire ships. Crush them against the chain. Use the speed of their own ships to pick off what they could. Even then, it might not be enough.