"The flag is... a red skull. That's 'Blood Hand' Carlos's pirate crew!"
"A Supernova with a bounty of 120 million Beli!"
Lorne looked up.
An enormous pirate ship was charging toward the warship at full speed.
A huge blood-red hand adorned its bow, and pirates packed its deck, waving cutlasses and muskets and letting out bursts of arrogant, bizarre laughter.
"Captain! Look! A lone Marine warship!"
A one-eyed pirate shouted.
"It's even a headquarters model. There must be plenty of good stuff aboard!"
The burly man standing at the bow wore a blood-red robe and carried an enormous battle-axe.
He was "Blood Hand" Carlos.
"Hahaha! So what if it's a headquarters warship?"
Carlos laughed arrogantly and slammed his battle-axe onto the deck.
"I was just worrying about not being famous enough! Sink that warship and steal their supplies, and my bounty will go up plenty more!"
"Pull alongside! Prepare to board!"
Rather than flee, the pirate ship accelerated like mad and moved directly across the warship's path.
Lorne stood on deck, watching the approaching pirate ship as the red light in his eyes grew brighter.
"A Supernova worth 120 million?"
Lorne rolled his neck, producing a crisp crack.
"Looks like my luck's good. A decent punching bag right after setting out."
"All hands, prepare for battle!"
Ethan drew his command saber and shouted his orders.
"Battle stations! Open with cannon fire, then close in and board!"
Ethan's voice thundered through the smoke.
The warship's gunports burst open, and pitch-black cannon barrels protruded, taking aim at the recklessly charging Blood Hand.
"Fire!"
Ethan swung his command saber down.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The tremendous recoil shifted the warship slightly sideways across the sea. More than a dozen cannonballs shrieked through the air and slammed into the pirate ship's deck and sides.
Flames