Attack!

Lana leapt up on the port rail, grasping a piece of rigging to steady herself. She drew her rapier and pointed at the merchant schooner.

"Looks like we have some competition lads." She bellowed to the crew. "We'll take her as well, extra cargo space for the journey home."

The crew gave an appreciative roar of approval. On the unidentified merchant vessel lookouts must have spotted the Lady Luck, a cluster of figures gathered briefly at her stern looking back at the pirate ship before scattering and feverishly working to increase the ship's speed.

"Full sail boys." Lana urged. "Run out the cannon and load em with chainshot, we'll take the wind out of her sails."

With the planet's lack of advanced technology the most advanced weapons now were black powder projectiles. The Lady Luck mounted a dozen medium cannon. Fairly modest in comparison with some of the nation's warships, but then as a pirate their desire was to take ship's intact rather than to sink them. The chainshot they loaded was designed to strip a ship's sails and rigging to stop them.

They drew up on their prey as it attempted to run for the island. The cannons loaded and run out in readiness the pirate crew crouched by the guns, cutlesses and flintlock pistols close at hand ready for boarding. Lana studied the other vessel closely, she had a row of cannon too, but with the Lady closing from her stern was unable to fire them. The crew seemed to be intent of coaxing every last knot of speed from the schooner rather than preparing for a fight.

"Coming up to range now Captain." Alistair informed Lana. "You see that group by the focsle? They don't look like crew to me."

Lana turned her attention to the target ship's forecastle and saw a group of cloaked figures standing motionless in contrast to the frenetic activity of the crew. She frowned, if they were simply passengers she would have expected them to be sent below. This group however simply stood watching the lady as she drew closer, apparently unafraid of the prospect of being under fire and waiting.

"Hard aport." Lana commanded once the distance had fallen to medium range for the ship's cannons. "Fire as you bear. Hit her on the upswing lads, lets strip off her petticoats."

There was a ripple of laughter from the pirate crew and then the ship heeled to port as the steersman turned her into the wind. The ship canted over with the turn, bringing the cannons aim up towards the ships mast and sails. The crew sighted down the cast iron barrels and a slow ripple of loud reports echoed as each was fired as they swung into arc of fire of the schooner. The shot, each two iron balls connected by a length of chain spun through the air towards their target.

"Hard astarboard." Lana ordered once she'd counted six cannon shots."Give em the other broadside."

As the Lady swung about to bring the remaining loaded guns to bear her first salvo ripped through the schooners rigging. Sail was stripped by the whirling chains and rigging and the smaller spars split and splintered. They were close enough now to hear the cries of dismay from the other ship as sail, rigging and splintered beams rained down from aloft on her deck. Some of the crew were hit by falling debris and went down, whilst others leapt in with axes to cut free the tangled wreckage.

Lana jumped from the rail and ran across the deck to the opposite side as her ship changed course. The second volley of chainshot fired out as the ship heeled over, the already shredded rigging of the schooner was ripped to tatters and her speed rapidly slowed to a crawl.

"Grand shooting boys." Lana congratulated her crew. "She's near dead in the water. Helmsman, lay the Lady alongside. Stand by boarders."

The pirates swarmed to the starboard, weapons and grappling hooks clutched at the ready. On the schooner the crew abandoned their attempts to clear the tangle mess of the deck and assembled with axes and swords in hand. The cloaked figures by the forecastle threw back their cloaks and Lana saw steel glint in their hands as they drew weapons.