"Mister Robinson," she turned, finally to Aden, "Would you please check if we have all the ordinance aboard?"

While the gold had been removed from the ship, it had been replaced with belts of machinegun ammunition and rank on rank of artillery shells modified to be dropped out of an airship. The modification included stabilising fins and sensitive impact fuses. It would not be a good idea to drop one in the gondola...

Aden could tell the answer out of the dismissal. They were going forward with this.

He came to attention. A hasty salute. "As you command your highness."

He left without much fanfare. Leaving Zoe to the crew as he made his way down the familiar passageways. The ship's conversion had been finished during tis stay within port. The finishing touches that the ship had been partially through before Inbur had fallen.

Though for all of its familiarity; the cargo bay didn't resemble anything like his memories of the place. The wealth was long gone; a nation's fortune hidden in non-descript crates had been replaced with more familiar devices.

Familiar crates of ammunition lay on pallets but the main sprawl of the bay had bigger munitions. Artillery shells, flat green and yellow shells with hasty implements added on in hasty welds and patches. Turning the former artillery shells into something resembling oversized darts. Their fuzes lay separated for now; waiting for the time to be implemented.

Aden checked them all over. Everything securely latched in place; pallets and rollers locked in case of turbulence and maneuvers. Or until the bombardiers had them prepped.

Satisfied; Aden made to leave lingering only slightly to look over the bay. Communalists, Gold, Carter, Zoe... the events of the last day seeming to drive him forward into this next course of action. Perhaps even more dangerous then the last. Back to the war.

Aden killed the light as he dogged the hatch behind him. Boots thundering as he retrieved a cigarette.

Gods helped him a part of him looked forward to it.

Rear Admiral Le Marinier

New Adventures
.455 Hot

Sorting out drinks was not quite the job for an Admiral but well, this was hardly a regular situation. The crew was hardly normal, nothing was normal here. Normal was a word they used to describe things that happened to other people. A Princess no less, and of the nation this belonged. Did it make a Royal airship?

He nodded, just glad to be doing something vaguely useful. Admiral was still taking some getting used to and it took a double take so used to being and making peace with a career as a captain. Flag officer without a ship, it was strange indeed. “Aye, I'll see what we have aboard, we will make the best of it. Give me 20 or so minutes.” He was unsure if it would be suitable for a Princess no less, but they had made do before with worse.

He kept respectful, it was somewhat strange dealing with someone who was normal who turned out to be a princess. Like who even thought that was an option? No training covered that one. The salute was crisp and clean as he turned away and headed to the dining area. He guessed that would be the best place to gather, find some drinks, coffee or so about. There had to be something.

The area was about as he had found it before but someone had done repairs, patched some of their old damage and also could see the signs of new light armour over an engine just slightly visible. Minimal but might deflect the odd hit.

Turning back to the room, he began to busy himself searching and found some.. serviceable supplies and tried to arrange the military rations and mix of furniture into something that was vaguely, kinda comfortable and less briefing room.

Itzi’s salute lowered quickly after Zoe gave her instructions, “Yes, Your Highness.”

There was no hesitation after that. Whatever uncertainty she had carried up to the bridge was pushed aside as she moved to the helm. For a moment her hands hovered near the controls, the last time she had stood here everything had been desperation, shouting, gold, blood and madness pulling them all toward ruin.

Now the ship was armed and ready, the crew was looking to move to the battlefield.

Itzi drew in a breath and placed her hands where they needed to be.

“Prepare to release lines,” she called out with confidence, “Engines to standby. Check ballast and trim. I want her rising clean.”

The words passed down, picked up by the proper crew. Metal began to groan faintly through the frame as the great ship stirred from its mooring. The deck shifted beneath her boots, subtle at first, then steadier as the airship began to lift.

Itzi kept her eyes forward.

For a second she thought of Hunyunak, the train depot, Carter, gone now, and the mess he had left behind. Then she looked back to the instruments at her hand and tightened her grip.

“Easy now,” she muttered, mostly to herself.

The airship rose from the dock, slow and immense, pulling free of the port and into the open sky.

Zano, despite his profession and minor role on the airship. He is still onboard and part of the crew. Mainly since he figured he could stay with the airship for a time before heading off to rebuild his life. Or maybe get inspired for his next invention.

Though in a bit more surprising news, it turned out that Zoe was an Inburrian Princess. That was a major shocker that he was with royalty since leaving the Inburrian Capital. What else is he going to find out before he leaves this airship for good? Zano let his mind wander for a moment before snapping back to reality. There is time for that later, he thought as he listened to Zoe's directions.

While he could help pilot the airship, Zano figured that Itzi did not need his help and elected to do what he could to aid the crew. While he is just an inventor and not a military person. That does not mean he is useless.

"I will help you there, Hamelin," he spoke calmly and went to follow and aid the rear admiral with his task. If the rear admiral wants his help, that is.

Rear Admiral Le Marinier

New Adventures
.455 Hot

The Admiral accepted the help, in part because it made jobs pass the time better, the other much as he was proud, he still was a man with one eye, a messed up hand and prosthetics.

“Four hands make light work Zano.” He said and agreed as he was somewhat lost in thoughts, assuming she was Princess, and this was her ship. Nations aside and cities he was maybe the last and only diplomat to the nation from Favis left? He might be the Ambassador even?

How on God's green earth did he end up an Admiral and promoted twice over in theory? Weird promotions and career moves aside he started at least on some coffee, maybe some more fortified coffee was needed.

“I would have thought you would stay behind, but glad you're with us.” He said as Hamerlin struggled with overly tight military coffee cans, one hand lacking some dexterity he had to sit down and use his legs to provide more leverage for his good hand. “Help me with this coffee, I've never been great at it.” He said with a can he finally got open.

“What do you reckon about all this, honestly? Its pretty crazy, I'm not even sure what we are, what our goal is. it's probably gonna be an adventure.” He said as he searched and shook his head at the quality of one of the bottles of brandy, just smelled…way too harsh. “Not sure what she wants to do, but we are packing a serious magazine for a Royal yacht.”

Finally he found the officers stash, they always hid some better stuff that might make their first gathering more pleasant.

@Theyra

There seemed to be a bit of a commotion as they departed. It wasn't clear exactly what it was, though one could guess... nobody, however, did anything to stop the launch. It seemed luck was in their favour... or perhaps it was Prince Maximilian rather than luck. As the ship began it's ascent, the Prince strode out onto the gangway of the mooring tower, offering the departing airship a salute.

Zoe smiled slightly, returning it, holding the pose until the figure of Prince Maximilian was just a spot below them before she relaxed, her posture seeming to deflate back into the Zoe that had been on the airship with them since Inbur.

She gave a smile to the bridge, before taking herself off towards the dining hall that they had once used for a party, pausing in the door to ask, "You coming?"

They hadn't removed the dining room furniture yet, apparently the Mittelanders had been more interested in removing the gold, and Zoe seated herself in an archair, folding her hands decorously in her lap, before looking up at whomever had followed her. She looked a little flushed, "So... question time I guess. I do hope Admiral Le Marinier has managed to find us something pleasant to drink."

Arkadios looked amongst the crew, "Your High-"

"Can we please go with something a little less formal on the ship? Miss Spy... err Miss Hasikos, is perfectly fine."

Arkadios looked surprised, but didn't protest, "Very well, Miss Hasikos," he said, trying out the unnatural feeling phrase, "This explains how you knew where the gold reserve was, though why the subterfuge as to who you are?"

"Captain, you are an honourable man," Zoe replied, glancing amongst the others, "So are you all, but I didn't know that when I got on the ship! And not everyone in our company has been. I was a little concerned that someone might decide to try to sell me to the Communalists, like a prize bull! Then, after a few days I figured if I announced who I was, everyone would think I was a lunatic. And, this might sound strange, but it was fun to be Zoe Spyrou for a little while. I have occasionally become her before for an evening," she said, confirming there was some grain of truth behind some of the semi-scandalous rumours that had circulated in the Inburian press about Philazoea, "though this was her longest outing to date."

"And what of your Royal Family? How did you escape?" Arkadios asked.

Zoe gave him a pensive look, pursing her lips for a moment before replying, "Well if you must know, Father had told his guard he wasn't leaving the city while it was under siege. He figured it would inspire the troops to defend the city more valiantly. I'm not sure if it was an inspiration, but they didn't seem to stand for very long at all. Father was rather surprised by the speed at which the Communalists seized most of the capital. The last I heard he was being told by a driver that the palace was cut off from friendly lines," Zoe gave an uncomfortable shrug as if acknowledging her actions hadn't been entirely noble, "I did suggest I had a plan, but nobody was listening so I thought some uncharitable thoughts, went back to my room, got changed, then climbed out a window and made a dash for it. I think I rather looked like a poor civilian fleeing the fighting - nobody gave me another glance."