[center][h2][color=#b3ccff]Esben Mathiassen[/color][/h2][/center]
[hr]

Esben heard a clatter of Valheimer troops as, in the midst of diving for cover from Éliane's cannon, were thrown into disarray by [i]his[/i] throwing the ship onto a new course. Metallic clangs as some of them crashed into the walls, jingling ammunition in pouches and belts, and a host of barbarian curses. Luckily for them, the invaders were stuck in a choke point of their own making, and with Éliane's own proclivities he wasn't terribly concerned about them yet. [color=#b3ccff]"Hope everything is going well over there!"[/color] he called out, before stomping down with one foot to keep one of the bridge crew bodies from flopping away.

He bent down, stripping away the deceased man's pistol, holster, and the pouch of ammunition he'd been carrying for it, tying them off to the side of his sword belt as quickly as he could. Cursing like the soldiers just past the entrance, he stepped over the body, half-throwing himself towards the console that had the throttles. Luckily, Valheim at least had a better idea than some of the ships he was familiar with in the water—letting the bridge crew have control of the engine power and speed, rather than having to try and get the commands down to engineering.

He slammed the throttles wide open. The massive turbines that propelled the airship roared over the forest canopy as they spun up higher, pushing huge amounts of air as the ship's approach to Reisa's weapon picked up speed. The screech of metal sliding against metal rang out as the ætherskimmer that had carried him and Éliane into the Valheimer flagship started to creep along the bridge back towards the busted open viewport.

[color=#b3ccff][i]Not good. Not that it'll matter if it's completely broken, but if there's a chance...[/i][/color]

He vaulted into the seat of the battered aircraft, quickly scanning over the controls before putting his fingers on the one that he figured [i]should[/i] power it back up. [color=#b3ccff]"Come on, tell me you've still got some life—Elly, be thinking of an exit strategy if I can't start this thing!"[/color]

If they survived this, he'd have to find a way to get the story to Bikke. Éliane may not approve very much, but even if their control of the ship was short lived, airborne piracy was certainly something new...