Prepare for a counterattack!

"I'm going to prepare to hit them back!" I say.

"You want to send them down before they do the same to us? Got it. I'm going to keep piloting from here." Nemo says. "Doreen! Leave the engine to Victoria, and go join Van Helsing on the rear deck!"

"Aye, captain." Doreen says.

"S-Sure, you can leave things to me...but there's only so much I can do! Just hurry!" Victoria says.

"I don't know what you plan to do, but if you mean to attack, hurry up and do it." Van Helsing says.

"I'll tell you what to do from here. I need you to go join Van Helsing!" Nemo says.

"Right!" Following Nemo's directions, I rush to the rear deck.

Doreen and Van Helsing are already there. Between the two if them is something very large.

And... What's that? Some kind of golden spear is next to it.

"Are you all there? The manual to the secret weapon should be right there, so start reading!" Nemo says. "Doreen, I'm going to focus on piloting, so I'm going to leave operating the weapon to you!"

"Me? All right." Doreen starts reading the manual as the ship is rocked by more explosions. "Um... Here are the instructions. '1. Get Caleb and Van Helsing into capsule.'"

"Excuse me? What did you say you were going to do to us?" Van Helsing asks.

"'If either of them questions you, ignore them and continue. This is an emergency and sacrifices must be made.'" Doreen continues.

"What is that supposed to mean? Nemo, I know you can hear us! Answer me!" Van Helsing says.

"Van Helsing, this truly is an emergency. There's no time to question the plan." Doreen says.

"I understand, but..." Van Helsing says.

"'Caleb is to wear the vest inside, with the wires attached to the specified points within the capsule, and hold into Van Helsing...'" Doreen continues.

"I guess if this is our one and only way to survive this, then we don't have a choice." I step into the sphere and sit down.

Van Helsing follows me inside and sits on my knee.

Doreen secures the lid. "'Next, bring the capsule to the tube, and set it near the aperture.'"

I feel the capsule slide into something.

"Hey... What is this? What's going on? I need to understand what's happening." Van Helsing says.

"'After they're in position, push the button to fire...'?" Doreen continues.

"Is this some kind of...?" I ask. It came up suddenly, and I didn't recognise it because of its strange sharp, but it seems to be... "A cannon...?!"

"As it seems. It seems to be a human cannon." Doreen says.

"Gold stars to you! We're about to debut the 'Caleb Van Helsing Cannon' invented by yours truly!" Nemo says.

"'Caleb Van Helsing Cannon'? That's actually pretty funny. Nice going, Nemo. Hahaha!" Lupin says.

"You're going to shoot Caleb and Van Helsing at Impey's ship? That's insane!" Victoria says.

"Don't worry! It'll work, because it's Caleb and Van Helsing! I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work with anyone else, anyway." Nemo says.

"Wh-What about safety...?" I ask.

"It's fine. Oh, it might kill any ordinary person, but it's you! You'll be fine!" Nemo says.

I hear Van Helsing screaming.

"Van Helsing can take it! She'll be fiiiiine!" Nemo says.

"You're really emphasising that this is for Caleb and Van Helsing only... I'm starting to get worried." Victoria says.

As the argument goes on, I hear gunshots and feel the airship shake.

"Doreen! Now! Shoot her good!" Nemo says.

I hear an incredible boom. The capsule seems to go flying.

"Bwahaha! A slow projectile like that is no problem to shoot down with my superior suuuuuuuuper-sciiiiiiiince!" Robur says.

"Not so fast! Doreen, push the button again!" Nemo says.

"Aye-aye."

The capsule opens in mid air.

"Whoa! The capsule opened?!" Lupin says.

"Oh, I see..." Van Helsing seems disgruntled by her treatment, but her eyes are locked on the enemy ship ahead.

"Thanks for being so understanding! We're counting on you both!" Nemo says.

It seems we can still hear Nemo. The wires attached to me must have a small communication device attached.

"Nemo...! When I get back, you're going to be in a world of pain!" Van Helsing says.

"I'll eat as much salt as you want later! For now, just look out! They're about to shoot!" Nemo says.

The weapons on the Albatross are turning towards the cannon as we speak, turrets big and small all facing us.

"Har har! Time to say goooooodbyeeeeee! You'll all be a greeeeat sacrifice for the advancement of scieeeence! Fire eeeeeevreeeeeythiiiiiing!" Robur's shout echoes across the sky.

"Hey, I'm captain. Fire everything." Impey says.

More than two rows of canons fire on us, their balls filling the air.

"Hmph. This is nothing!" Van Helsing says. One of the cannonballs is coming right at her, but she calmly fires at the highly explosive projectile and diverts its path. We feel the heat of the explosion, but it doesn't do any damage to us. Van Helsing continues to reload and fire, targeting the projectiles on a collision course with our ship. She shoots down one cannonball after another, and the air between our ship and the Albatross is filled with smoke and fire. "Perfect. After the indignity I've suffered, I have to let off some steam."

I jump from cannon ball to cannon ball, while holding Van Helsing who shoots other cannon balls.

"My, they're really going all-out." Doreen says.

"I can see everything from here. Van Helsing's using her shotgun to blow up the cannonballs. And-- Whoa! Caleb's jumping from ball to ball!" Lupin says.

"His skills are superhuman..." Victoria says.

"I hope Caleb and Van Helsing's all right..." Doreen says.

"Don't worry. I planned this, knowing what they are capable of. They'll definite take care of the job." Nemo says.

We reach the Albatross.

"Can you hear me? I've infiltrated the Albatross, and I'm going to take down the crew one by one. Any questions?" I speak through the communication device.

"Good. Fight them, but don't kill anybody. An airship that size can't be piloted alone. They'll need an emergency landing." Nemo says.

"Got it." I reply to Nemo's impossible order.