[center][url=http://puu.sh/r4MFQ/0e2c86af22.mp3][U]F U L L  S P E E D  A H E A D[/U][/url][/center]
[u][b]The Bridge[/b][/u]
Captain Conway cursed as a streak of lightning seared down in the distance. "Tha's too close for comfort," he muttered. "Helmsman, go ta starboard standard rudder. I want to try and cut outta this mess earlier than later."

"Aye, sir," said the helmsman, as the captain turned to the Garrloch's ace pilot. "Thanks fer this, Krauss, but now's the least useful time ta be givin' this to me. Give it to the quartermast--"

He broke off as a deafening, shrieking crack erupted from behind them. Another bolt of lightning: this one far closer than the last. "Blast it all," hissed Conway, and he pushed a button on the intercom. "Throttle station," said the captain. "How's our speed lookin'?" After a moment of silence, he snapped, "I don' care if we're worried about fuel! If we don't make it through this 'ere storm, we won't be needin' any fuel, yeah? Get me more speed."

Slowly, the speed of the Garrloch increased. "Helmsman, shift your rudder! I want us goin' out of the Ring, not drivin' along within it." The captain glanced to one side. "The big waves are comin' in now. So far it's manageable: we're not gonna like it, but neither are we sunk." He had just placed his hand on his console when another thunderous boom echoed across the sea.

This time, a very noticeable lurch accompanied it, along with a sound of rending metal. Another squawk came from the console, and now Conway cursed intensely. "Fuck the widow's grave of this hellspawn!" He pulled down his PA microphone, flipping a switch.

"Attention, all ye aboard. Now's the time to earn yer keep! Anyone who's not injured or tendin' a station, I want ye all up above decks. We've been hit by lightning, and there's a fire going on the lower deck. Get up there and put it out." He released the microphone and grabbed Krauss by the shoulder. "Come wit' me, ace. There's real work ta be done."
[hr]
[u][b]Mess Hall[/b][/u]
Ed smiled at the woman who had spoken. She'd said her name was Luna, right? "I don't really know where anything is, to be honest. I'm as new to this as you are. Probably newer, in fact." He smiled again, trying to break the ice that he felt between everyone on board. "I'm sure you could ask one of the people around here, though, they--"

He was cut off by another thunderous rumble. That one had been too close for his comfort. "What the hell is..." he mumbled, feeling suddenly very sick to his stomach. "Do you think this ship is...safe?" Wasn't it supposed to be the finest ship in the UINC fleet? [i]The UINC hasn't been making ships that long, though.[/i] The logical voice in his head only terrified him.

For a moment, the ship rolled, and Ed felt his bod sliding to one side as they turned. Was the captain trying to dodge lightning? There was no way: Conway hadn't struck him as a fool. They were probably veering off course in the waves. A tiny bit of relief fluttered through him at that thought, and he watched Constance try to regain the control that they all felt they had lost.

Then another crash echoed through the ship, and everything lurched to one side with a tilt that left Ed queasy. Before he had even a moment to wonder about what had happened, Conway came on over the speakers. By the time the announcement ended, the professional sailors on board were moving about with practiced planning. They'd been hit by lightning? Fire?

He was still processing these things when one of the sailors pointed at him. "You, Samick!" he pointed to Constance as well, and Luna. "You're all part of this crew, so follow me to the deck. We'll need you, if the fire is bad." He whirled forward toward Ed, and with a flurry of activity, the reporter found himself being whisked off by the sailor to the deck above.
[hr]
[u][b]Lower Deck 1[/b][/u]
Ed arrived just as Captain Conway stormed in from another entrance. The flames were licking at a huge hunk of metal of some kind, and they were many and hot. Above the flames, a wide hole exposed their heads to the raging storm outside. Edward shivered as he realized what must have happened: the lightning must have burned a hole through the main deck entirely, melting through to the lower deck. 

Was that even possible? Ed made a mental not to ask someone, before Conway roared at him to take a hose that was being offered to him. "Take it, ya doe-eyed fuck! We'll need at least three o' these bastards ta put out this conflagration!" He barked orders to his other sailors, pointing down the hall to where Ed presumed a water valve was located, or something. 

The rain poured in from above, soaking them all, but doing little to put out the fire itself. Conway grunted as he hefted another hose and tossed it at Constance. "If we don't contain this fire, we'll not be gettin' out beyond tha Ring at all!"