[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBaSAFT25D0][b][u]L A N D  H O[/u][/b][/url][/center]
[u]The Aircraft, Far above the sea-level[/u]
They were in the air. It was incredible. Of course, Ed had flown back on the Isles: anyone who wanted to go anywhere flew. Sure there were automobiles, but getting between the Isles required more than an automobile had been able to provide. Although at one point Edward was pretty sure someone had strapped a turbojet engine to a car to try and bridge the gap between Dover and Ventui. Needless to say, that story had not had a happy ending.

Yet despite all his experience with flight, this was an entirely new experience. Below them was the sea itself, not floating islands, and certainly not horrifyingly powerful storm clouds. This was true flight. He laughed with a sudden vigor, thrilled to realize that against all odds, they had made it out of the storms, and now they were well and truly underway.

Constance screeched something from the backseat, but the whirring of the propellers and the rush of wind drowned her out. Even with the communications systems in action, her voice had been so panicked as to be totally muddled by the static. "Sorry, Constance!" he laughed, pointing to his ear with a shrug. "Can't hear a word you're saying!" He turned back to the front and raised his camera, clicking another shot of the sky and water. Naturally he'd have to develop the film later, but he knew how to take a good picture. At least in theory.

A crackle in their headsets caught Ed by surprise. "Cap'n Conway here. What's the status up there, Atlas One? Over."

Ed fumbled with his headset for a moment before figuring out how it work. "Uh...Atlas One here. It's incredible," he said. "I think we're still rising." As if in protest to his assumption, there was a sudden loud noise added to the cacophony around them. When Ed turned in his seat he saw the helicopter blades of the aircraft actually were rotating in place, slowly swerving from upright to forward-facing. With the change in position came a change in acceleration: Ed felt the aircraft gaining speed, and he quickly contacted the Garrloch again. "Scratch that, we're uh...moving forward. I don't really know the proper way to communicate through radio, but we've just begun acceleration. So far things seem to be holding up."

"Great. Ya might be interested ta know that the direction we're goin' is uncharted as of yet. Yer all goin' much faster than the ship, so keep an eye out, an' keep in touch.  Garrloch out." 

The radio went silent again, and for a short while they flew without words. Ed took pictures as they flew, but he already had so many great ones, and there was no way he could really improve the shots. This was as good as it would get for now. "Uncharted territory," he mumbled. This was part of the world that no one else had ever seen these places before.

After about a half an hour, Ed raised his camera again, absent mindedly taking a snapshot of a blurry mass on the horizon. "That'll make a good spread," he mumbled. Then the realization struck him. "Krauss!" he shouted, lurching forward in his seat. "That way!" he pointed briefly at where he had seen the blur. Then he dove into his bag and pulled out the telescope that everyone at the Winged Gazette had called him crazy for bringing. "Am I crazy now?" he laughed, pulling open the little tube with a clatter of excitement.

It was land! There was no mistaking it. As they continued onward, it became more and more certain. What had at first been a blur was resolved into rolling hills of green, and a golden beach which looked a lot like Lake Marum's, only larger, cleaner, and totally untouched by anyone from the UI. "Land Ho!" he said, and then instantly felt like a total fool. "Krauss, tell the Garrloch! This is it, this is why we left the Isles!" He felt like his face was going to burst from excitement.

"Can we land down there, Krauss? Imagine what we might find." He turned back to Constance with a grin on his face. "See that, Constance! We've done it!"

[u]Sickbay, Starboard[/u]
Officer Raoul's irritation melted away when Armas entered the room. "Oh, of course. Yes, yes, right this way. Luna, would you be able to take care of this man's injury? I'll take...Sigrun, was it?" He pointed at the other woman. "She and I will begin prepping the backup sickbay for use. I'm sorry to make you do this without anyone else around, but after that stint with the Ring, we're pretty booked all over the ship. Lots of little injuries. Sailors are such babies sometimes, honestly."

The PA system sparked to life again, and Officer Raoul jumped in surprise. "Plummet! I hate that thing."

[i]Attention all crew. All crew, listen up. We've got land. Uncharted land, about five hours west. Make sure yer affairs on the ship are in order: we'll be campin' on solid ground tonight, God willin', but there's still plenty left to do on the Garrloch.[/i]

Raoul's face went pale at the announcement. "God be kind," he whispered, before snapping back to attention. "You heard the captain. Luna, would you be willing to keep tidying up here? You can help her once you're patched up," he said to the new man. "As long as you can walk, of course." He clicked his fingers at Sigrun who, after a moment of hesitation and a glare at the two sleeping patients, followed the chief medical officer out of the room and down the hall. "Let's get this ship spic and span!"