((Harbor))
The group reached the harbor without further incident. They found a submarine moored at the dock, waiting for them.
"Wait," said a senator, "Who gave you guys a freaking U-boat?"
"Germany, of course," said the squad commander, "Don't worry, it only has enough fuel to get us to Athens. You'll be safe there."
He motioned to the sub. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get in and we can get out of here sooner!"
Without another word, the group filed into the sub. A soldier shut the hatch, and the vessel pulled away from the dock, towards the Golden Horn.
((Rebel HQ, Blachernae))
"General Secretary," said a rebel, "Our scouts have detected a U-Boat attempting to flee the city. It does not fly the German colors, and the Germans claim it was stolen from one of their shipyards a month ago."
Tsoukalos realized what that meant. "The senators!" he exclaimed. "Angelos might be evacuating them from the city on that submarine! Raise the Great Chain and destroy that sub before it escapes!"
The rebel relayed the General Secretary's orders to other rebels, who scampered away.
At the Golden Horn, dozens of rebels heaved with all of their might, and slowly a large chain emerged from the waters, putting up a screen below it...
((Somewhere near Julius's neighborhood))
"So, uh, Markos," began Ioannes, "What have you been up to since you were last here?"
"Not much," replied Markos, "Raised my family--yes, I do have a family--in our simple house in Germany, studying theology and military tactics, hoping that I don't have to come back here at some point. Pretty boring stuff, I'd say. I just wanted to get away from all of the court politics and military hierarchy. Can you imagine what it is like being Konstantinos's second-in-command? Always having someone to overshadow you, boss you around, claim all of the credit, and I get blamed for everything because with his death I am suddenly the leader of his movement. Even when I never claimed the throne for myself! Yes, you guys invented that. I don't blame you. I mean, I did sit on the throne and call myself a saint."
"Heads up," said John-Loukas, "We've got company. Rebels up ahead. They appear to be fighting another group of what appear to be armed civilians. One such civilian seems to be wearing senatorial robes."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Ioannes responded. "Let's kill some rebel scum!"
The three men charged towards the rebel group, guns ready.
((The sub))
"Sir," said one of Markos's soldiers, peering through the periscope, "They're trying to raise the Great Chain!"
Suddenly, the sub shook as artillery shells struck the water nearby.
"Load the torpedoes," said the commander, "And prepare to dive."
"Dive, dive! Battle stations!" Alarms blared throughout the sub as men scrambled to their positions, loading torpedoes into launchers, pushing buttons, and pulling levers.
Nestorius almost lost his balance when the sub lurched downward and accelerated forward.
The artillery bombardment continued, and the fear in the crew was almost palpable. The next shot could be a direct hit...
There was a gurgling sound from above, and the soldier retracted the periscope. "Fully submerged, sir."
"Lock all weapons on the Chain and fire at will," ordered the commander.
"Firing away." Several soldiers pressed glowing buttons.
There was a roar as the torpedoes shot out of their launchers, sailing silently towards their target. A few seconds later, they heard a few muted booms as the torpedoes hit their targets. A few seconds after that, they heard metal groaning and tearing as the Chain broke apart, taking its screen with it.
"Direct hit," said a soldier, "The Chain has been neutralized."
"Full speed ahead," ordered the commander.
The sub slid through the wreckage of the formerly Great Chain and left the burning city behind. The sounds of artillery vanished behind them, leaving only the steady hum of the engines.
"Well, we've made it," said the commander, "Athens, here we come!"
The crew and senators clapped in relief. Except for Hairini, who felt like something or someone was missing...
The group reached the harbor without further incident. They found a submarine moored at the dock, waiting for them.
"Wait," said a senator, "Who gave you guys a freaking U-boat?"
"Germany, of course," said the squad commander, "Don't worry, it only has enough fuel to get us to Athens. You'll be safe there."
He motioned to the sub. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get in and we can get out of here sooner!"
Without another word, the group filed into the sub. A soldier shut the hatch, and the vessel pulled away from the dock, towards the Golden Horn.
((Rebel HQ, Blachernae))
"General Secretary," said a rebel, "Our scouts have detected a U-Boat attempting to flee the city. It does not fly the German colors, and the Germans claim it was stolen from one of their shipyards a month ago."
Tsoukalos realized what that meant. "The senators!" he exclaimed. "Angelos might be evacuating them from the city on that submarine! Raise the Great Chain and destroy that sub before it escapes!"
The rebel relayed the General Secretary's orders to other rebels, who scampered away.
At the Golden Horn, dozens of rebels heaved with all of their might, and slowly a large chain emerged from the waters, putting up a screen below it...
((Somewhere near Julius's neighborhood))
"So, uh, Markos," began Ioannes, "What have you been up to since you were last here?"
"Not much," replied Markos, "Raised my family--yes, I do have a family--in our simple house in Germany, studying theology and military tactics, hoping that I don't have to come back here at some point. Pretty boring stuff, I'd say. I just wanted to get away from all of the court politics and military hierarchy. Can you imagine what it is like being Konstantinos's second-in-command? Always having someone to overshadow you, boss you around, claim all of the credit, and I get blamed for everything because with his death I am suddenly the leader of his movement. Even when I never claimed the throne for myself! Yes, you guys invented that. I don't blame you. I mean, I did sit on the throne and call myself a saint."
"Heads up," said John-Loukas, "We've got company. Rebels up ahead. They appear to be fighting another group of what appear to be armed civilians. One such civilian seems to be wearing senatorial robes."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Ioannes responded. "Let's kill some rebel scum!"
The three men charged towards the rebel group, guns ready.
((The sub))
"Sir," said one of Markos's soldiers, peering through the periscope, "They're trying to raise the Great Chain!"
Suddenly, the sub shook as artillery shells struck the water nearby.
"Load the torpedoes," said the commander, "And prepare to dive."
"Dive, dive! Battle stations!" Alarms blared throughout the sub as men scrambled to their positions, loading torpedoes into launchers, pushing buttons, and pulling levers.
Nestorius almost lost his balance when the sub lurched downward and accelerated forward.
The artillery bombardment continued, and the fear in the crew was almost palpable. The next shot could be a direct hit...
There was a gurgling sound from above, and the soldier retracted the periscope. "Fully submerged, sir."
"Lock all weapons on the Chain and fire at will," ordered the commander.
"Firing away." Several soldiers pressed glowing buttons.
There was a roar as the torpedoes shot out of their launchers, sailing silently towards their target. A few seconds later, they heard a few muted booms as the torpedoes hit their targets. A few seconds after that, they heard metal groaning and tearing as the Chain broke apart, taking its screen with it.
"Direct hit," said a soldier, "The Chain has been neutralized."
"Full speed ahead," ordered the commander.
The sub slid through the wreckage of the formerly Great Chain and left the burning city behind. The sounds of artillery vanished behind them, leaving only the steady hum of the engines.
"Well, we've made it," said the commander, "Athens, here we come!"
The crew and senators clapped in relief. Except for Hairini, who felt like something or someone was missing...
))
