Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Kraken

By Arabella Wyatt

Being a reluctant pirate captain used to be easy for James Hartwell. He just had to deal with the pursuing English navy, a corrupt English admiral, marauding pirates, his own crew of technologically mutating buccaneers, and his private feelings toward a mysterious and attractive cyborg fallen from the stars.

Now, he has to do all this while chasing a mechanically enhanced kraken across the world’s oceans. What’s worse, they seem to have picked up Charles Darwin on the way, and Lady Mechatronic seems quite smitten with the young naturalist.

Can Hartwell negotiate the seven seas, his own emotions and a giant cyber squid with a laser eye that can burn through a ship in seconds? Or should he just stay in his cabin with his absinthe?

Book 4 of a reasonably thrilling steampunk/pirate mash up.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Jan 13, 2013
• ISBN: 9781771113816

Book preview

Power up the laser cannons! Get Mister Darwin on deck! Follow that mechanical kraken!

Being a reluctant pirate captain used to be easy for James Hartwell. He just had to deal with the pursuing English navy, a corrupt English admiral, marauding pirates, his own crew of technologically mutating buccaneers, and his private feelings toward a mysterious and attractive cyborg fallen from the stars.

Now, he has to do all this while chasing a mechanically enhanced kraken across the world’s oceans. What’s worse, they seem to have picked up Charles Darwin on the way, and Lady Mechatronic seems quite smitten with the young naturalist.

Can Hartwell negotiate the seven seas, his own emotions and a giant cyber squid with a laser eye that can burn through a ship in seconds? Or should he just stay in his cabin with his absinthe?

Book 4 of a reasonably thrilling steampunk/pirate mash up.

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Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Kraken

Copyright © 2012 Arabella Wyatt

ISBN: 978-1-77111-381-6

Cover art by Angela Waters

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

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Smashwords Edition

Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Kraken

Lady Mechatronic and the Steampunked Pirates, Book 4

By

Arabella Wyatt

Chapter One

It was a bright and sunny morning on the Caribbean Sea when a pirate vessel attacked the unnamed galleon commanded by James Hartwell.

Hartwell, ex-captain of the English navy before his betrayal by the corrupt Admiral Johnson, had been on one of his customary walks around his ship, checking on both it and the crew. Today, he had selected to walk with his first officer, Madrigal, who was puffing slightly.

This used to be a much easier task, breathed the large African. We could get round the ship in the time it would take Anatole to prepare a snack. Now, he’s got time to complete a three course meal before we’re done. Anatole was Madrigal’s brother and the ship’s gourmet chef.

Lady Mechatronic’s upgrades have certainly rewritten the rules on ship design and basic physics, agreed Hartwell, passing lightly over the fact that the galleon was now bigger on the inside than the outside and contained technology far beyond the dreams of any earthly engineer. It’s also helped distract the crew from the horrors of Cannibal Island, he added, referring to the terrifying ordeal that had claimed the lives of several of the crewmembers.

We still don’t really know anything about Lady Mechatronic herself, mused Madrigal. Who is she? What is she? A creature of metal bones and silver flesh, riddled with advanced technology which is transmitting itself through the rest of the crew.

The cyber nanobots, said Hartwell with a shrug. "She assures me it is only our bodies which are being changed with each upgrade, as she terms them. Our characters will not be altered."

And what changes they are, exclaimed Madrigal. The powers we are developing! Sometimes, I truly fear it.

I fear it may make us complacent, replied Hartwell as the unknown pirate vessel approached them and fired a warning shot at the elderly galleon.

The galleon’s crew looked up in a blasé manner from whatever tasks they were doing. None moved with any urgency despite the cannon fire. Some even grinned at the surprise that awaited the attacking ship.

I see what you mean about complacency, admitted Madrigal at the relaxed demeanour of the crew.

Battle stations! bellowed Hartwell. The crew leapt and scattered, quickly taking their assigned positions.

Madrigal glanced at Hartwell with a concerned look on his face. The captain had a ferocious temper that scared even the most hardened mariner, but