672 - Twilight Zone Part 2/2

The Old World, UN FOB, Fort Anchorage

The cliff walls cracked as strong tremors rocked the cove, sending chunks of stone crashing down. Panicked base personnel and the Banished inhabitants followed orders from the remaining military troops in the base and took shelter inside the fortified bunkers while others boarded the heavily armored UNS Vengeance for safety.

Captain Nemo cursed as a large chunk of rock, almost the size of a Viper, landed on Flight Deck B causing the ship to wobble slightly. The offending chunk of rock leave a dent on the armored deck and remained there blocking any future flight operations until removed. Thankfully, majority of the aircraft onboard the UNS Vengeance had already been crated up and were awaiting transfer back to the New World.

Only a couple of squadrons were to remain behind to support the downsized base and none of the birds were currently topside at the moment. Not only that, more than half the crew had already been transferred back home and at the moment, the UNS Vengeance once again seemed to be filled with life, despite the fear and shock.

"What the heavens is going on with these earthquakes?" Captain Nemo spoke out to no one in particular. He wanted to ask the hooman Doctor but apparently, she did not make it onboard the Vengeance and must had taken shelter in one of the bomb shelters inside the base. He half bent himself as he stared out of the view ports of the bridge at the top of crumbling cliffs before turning his bridge crew and ordered, "Cut the lines and shut those ramps once everyone has boarded! We are sitting wyverns here! Bring up the defensive shields!"

"Helm! Get ready to back her out of the harbor!" He ordered next. Luckily, the ship's 'magical' reactor was constantly running as the Vengeance was hooked up to the base, providing power. Previously, powered by the dungeon core, but having being transferred to Old Ugly, the reactor was now powered by the Heart of the Fire Elemental instead. Without the need to cold start the reactor, the Vengeance could almost immediately engage its engines once the order was given.

Any one else seeking refuge from the earthquake was redirected to the bunkers as crew members removed mooring lines and boarding ramps. Once the all clear was given, the engines rumbled and the Vengeance slowly made its way out of the cove, a dome of shimmering energy constantly flickering as rocks landed on its magical shields.

Finally out of the cove and from the danger of falling rocks, Captain Nemo let out a sigh of relief. As damage and situational reports came flooding in from all departments, he stared out of the view ports, seeing the effects of the earthquake all along the coastal cliffs. Like massive chunks of ice breaking off Earth's arctic glaciers, the cliffs all along the coast line had crumbled. Rough waves battered the sides of the Vengeance and Captain Nemo spotted the ramshackle floating market city made out of dozens and dozens of ships, boats and rafts were in danger of breaking apart and sinking due to the violent waves.

"Helm! Get us over to the Floating Market!" He ordered. "Prepare the crew for rescue operations!"

Just as sudden as the earthquake hit, it stopped just as sudden but the damage was already done. The floating market city had broken into many parts and sunk with many lives fell into the rough seas and drowned. The crew of the Vengeance could only brave the still rough seas to rescue as much people as possible off the shattered floating market.

"Ca- Captain!" A bridge crew suddenly called out and pointed to the far distance of the ocean. Captain Nemo grabbed his binoculars and turned to the direction the crew was pointing and his expression turned grim. In the direction of the New World, where one normally couldn't even see the wall of clouds along the horizon from this distance, but this time, an angry red hue mixed with darkness could be seen on the horizon. "The... End Zone! We can see the clouds of the End Zone!"

"What in the heavens and hell is going on?" Captain Nemo spoke aloud the same question once more, but no one could answer him. He put down the binoculars and his mind raced as he sought to make sense of the situation. "Ignore that for now! Our current objective is to save people! Are the comms with Fort Anchorage still down?"

"Sir, we are not picking up any com-" The comms officer reported halfway before he paused as he placed both hands on his headset and frowned. "Hold on, sir... I am receiving from the base..."

The comms officer's eyes widened in shock as he listened to the message. He turned to Captain Nemo and reported, "Sir! Fort Anchorage is reporting they are under attack!"

"We are under attack?" Captain Nemo was surprised and he picked up a spare comms headset to hear the messages personally.

"-er attack! Repeat! Fort Anchorage is under attack! Unknowns are breaking in through the walls! Reques-"

"Battle stations!" Captain Nemo cried out without hesitation. "Set condition one throughout the ship!"

The bridge crew already veterans, jumped to his command. Instantly, sirens wailed and a pre recorded message blared throughout the ship.

"ALL HANDS ACTION STATIONS! ACTION STATIONS! SET CONDITION ONE THROUGHOUT THE SHIP! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"

****** Author's Rumblings *****
My whole family is down w covid... and im out of voice for over a week alreaaaadyy~~~~