The Iqaluk Chronicles: Last Storm

By Loreli McCole

Blood on her hand, She vowed all she had and was, life and soul, to her ship, the extraordinary Iqaluk and her crew.

Before the next voyage ends, the woman known only as Captain may lose every bit of that and more.

Steampunk in nature but creative in its concepts, The Iqaluk Chronicles: Last Storm introduces the enigmatic Captain and her stunning craft, The Iqaluk, and a whole new world of action adventure from the mind of author Lorelei McCole.

A world that faces a threat they have only ever read about in books suddenly needs someone to step up and fight for them. Captain has only just finished her first year in charge of her ship and has suffered and survived all the disasters that entails.

But now she must figure out how to prevent war from coming to her home. And if she fails, her ship, her crew, and her very world may well be lost.

The Iqaluk Chronicles: Last Storm by Lorelei McCole. From Pro Se Productions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pro Se Press
• Release date: Oct 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310840432

Book preview

Prologue

—::—

The Iqaluk was not a normal airship. With two horizontal sails and a pair of wings on each side housing the array of propellers that counterbalanced her weight, she sailed through the skies with ease, something unattainable in a conventional airship. Storms were her specialty, as her main trade of collecting lightning wasn’t done in clear skies and smooth winds. A lightning rod replaced the bowspirit on the front of the ship and pointed the way wherever she was headed. Wrapped around that rod was a metallic snake. Its metal scales sparked and shimmered whether she was gathering the massive energy of a storm or simply reflecting the sunlight of the day. The head of the snake rested halfway down the rod and its body coiled around the shaft until it went under the bow of the ship, the tail ending under the hull itself.

Why is there a snake around the collector, Papa? Tresha asked. She was a young girl with dark red hair flowing about her face and the smudges of cleaner on her hands and arms. She was barely more than seven years old and had been aboard the ship every season since she could remember. She knew every nook and cranny of her father’s ship and the feel of the engines beneath her. She sat on the bow with her legs pulled up under her, watching her father cleaning the rod. Her dark brown eyes smiled at him and he smiled back as he ran a cloth along the scales.

Your great-grandmother had this rod made for your great-grandfather. She was from far across the seas and skies and her people told a tale of the Lightning Snake. He leaned back against the rope. He wore a bandana that kept his brownish-red hair pulled back from his face as he worked and a loose button-up shirt over his brown pants. The black boots he wore had a thin, flexible sole more suited for climbing in the ropes than heavy deck work. Richard Silmarn looked up at his daughter with greenish blue eyes and his smile deepened.

Lightning Snake? Tresha ran her cloth over the part of the snake she could reach.

"Aye, the Iqaluk used to have a fish holding the lightning rod. Iqaluk means fish in your great-grandmother’s land and the Iqaluk was designed to look more like a fish in the skies, with her fin tail rudder and mesh netting to look like scales. He gestured back towards the rudder. Great-grandfather was so sick one season that he could not go out into the storms but his crew was capable so he sent his men out without him under his first mate. The crew was doing great, filling tanks faster than they ever had before. The haul would have been enough to finish the season strong but they got greedy and the first mate steered them into the storm for longer than was needed. The rod overheated and SNAPPED, pulling the fish down with it as it fell. The crew ended up having to return to port with the knowledge that all their hard work was going to have to pay for a new rod and repairs to the ship."

The rod broke? Tresha looked down at the metal for a moment.

Aye, no matter how good your metal is, after a time of lightning flowing through it the rod gets too hot and will break. It’s why you should always pay attention to how long you are in a storm. He nodded. "The repairs of the ship get paid before the crew gets paid. So a new rod was made from the sales of that trip. Great-grandmother told the crew the story of the Lightning Snake and how he punishes those who abuse the gifts the world provides for us. She told them that breaking the rod was their punishment for taking more than they needed from nature. When this rod was installed, each member of the crew put their hand on the snake and vowed to never take more than they need from a storm. Since then, the Iqaluk has not had any major damage or injuries in a storm. As captain of the ship, I renew that vow every season and expect my crew to adhere to the vow as well. Someday, when you are captain, you will have to renew the vow as well. Never take more from the skies than you need, Tresh, and the Iqaluk and Lightning Snake will provide for you even out of storm season."

Tresha ran her hand along the body of the snake, feeling the details of the scales underneath her fingers. "Someday Lightning Snake and the Iqaluk will be mine and we will take care of each other."

* * *

The smooth scales under her skin were warm from the afternoon sun and as she opened her eyes, she could see the slight shimmer of the heat coming off them. Tresha stood at the bow of the ship with her crew behind her, waiting as they sailed through the skies towards the storm clouds in the distance. She was barely 20 years old and taking command of her father’s ship.

The thought of her father brought a lump in her throat but she shook her head trying not to think of the fact that he was dead now. He had fallen from the rigging during a storm and she had lost a lot of time and crew trying to deal with everything at once.

Tresha shook her head, not wanting to think about it. She took a deep breath, looked out at the horizon and spread her fingers a little further apart. She wore a sleeveless long coat over her white shirt and dark brown pants. Her boots had a small heel that helped her keep her balance but otherwise were flat. She felt the chill of the storm on the horizon that blew her long red hair back from her face. She let out her breath before she took another and started to speak. Her voice boomed out over the winds.

"First storm of the season. My first storm as Captain of the Iqaluk. As my father vowed before me, and his father before him, I swear to the Iqaluk, to Lightning Snake, and to the crew who stood by me in this transition that I will never ask for more than I am willing to give. I will never take more than is needed from the skies, and I will never put my needs above those of this ship and its crew."

She turned to face her crew and tried not to notice that it was smaller than her father’s. She raised her hand and took her blade across it quickly. The cut was shallow but bled enough. She placed her bloody hand print on the snake then repeated it on both masts as she walked down the ship. The crew remained silent as she walked up the short steps to stand before the small cabin that housed the pilot seat and put her last hand print there.

I am Captain now and will be addressed as such. No other name is needed. If you do not wish to follow me as Captain, you can remain in your bunk until we return to port. She knew that the crew she had now were willing to stay but she had to say it either way. She let her eyes wander over the handful of men and one woman she had as a crew. The season would be rough but the Iqaluk and Lightning Snake would provide. She had to believe. She wrapped a handkerchief around her bloody hand and nodded.

She watched as some of the older crew walked up to bow, placing their hand on the scales beside her hand print and repeated the same vow though without blood. I will never ask for more than I am willing to give, I will never take more than is needed from the skies, and I will never put my needs above those of this ship and its crew.

The younger crew members who had just started followed suit, making their own vow for the season. When each member had placed their hand and made their vow, the Captain smiled. She looked out over her crew and nodded. As she was turning to go, a voice called out.

Hail, Captain! May she always find her way in the dark and lead us safely through the storm. It was an old saying, but the crew repeated it as one. She stood up straighter, pulled her coat tighter around her and grinned. She would make this her crew, her ship, and she would do it her way.

Hail, crew! Now get yourselves in your gear! We have some lightning to catch and I’ll be damned if you are going to make me late for a storm! Mels, get your crew in order! Mister Thompson, I want those riggers in the lines NOW. Who is in the pilot deck? Mister Relsus, spotters in gear and ready in one hour.

The crew let out a cry of excitement, everyone running to their places as she watched from beside the pilot’s cabin. She could feel the tension as the storm building on the horizon caused the light to start fading.

You did well. A voice behind her made her shiver just a moment. Turning around she was faced with a man in a leather mask and engineer’s apron covering his chest and part of his legs, stopping just above the oversized boots that helped him keep balance in the engine room. Despite barely being able to see him through his outfit, she smiled at him knowing he was smiling as well.

Thank you. I saw you make your vow. I was not expecting it. She kept it to herself that she had long since expected him to leave the ship. Xavier was a unique man and she hadn’t expected him to be loyal but he had proved her wrong. In the seven months since her father’s death, he had worked with her to get the engine repaired and redo some of the ships inner workings for collecting lightning. They had missed the tail end of last season between grief and repairs and didn’t have enough cargo runs during off-season to make up the difference. When she became captain of the ship, more than half the crew stepped down and she had swiftly found out exactly where people’s loyalties were.

She’s where I want to be now. Making a vow to her after all this work seemed appropriate. She’s looked after me, it’s only fair I return the favor, he said.

You’ve already done your share of looking after her, Xavier. Without your work I don’t think we’d be capable of much, Captain nodded.

Xavier shrugged. Then perhaps we can take care of each other for a time.

She tilted her head. Do you mean the ship or do you mean me?

Xavier adjusted his mask slightly. Yes.

She smiled and shook her head. We would like that but for now get to the engine room. The Skies know we need a good run today.

He gave a sweep of a bow before heading off. The smile on her face barely faded as she looked up at her riggers. Three new members and two old, including Mr. Thompson, the head rigger. She watched them moving about and noted the newer members stumbling over lines a bit.

She was about to look away when one of them soared out over the edge of the ship, too high up with no safety line. She saw him grab for a line on the sail but miss and start to fall. She unhooked her line and ran fast towards the edge, grabbing a rope along the way. She had time to jump out and catch him if she got enough momentum. The rope slipped from her hand as a figure just above her grabbed it and made the leap. The two figures fell past her and she stopped her run at the edge to look over in time to see the first man being grabbed by the second. The rope went taut and she lost sight of them as they swung under the ship. She heard the men on the other side of the deck yell to pull in the lines and it wasn’t long before the two men were back on deck. Several deckhands grabbed the men as they got close to the railing and sat them both down. One man was obviously shaken as he sat down on the deck but the other stood up immediately and smiled.

Ye’ll be right, just take a long drink an’ get yer wits settled, the black-clad figure stated as Captain took a moment to look him over. He wore the usual rigging gear, black shirt with rings to hook lines to, a belt with numerous pouches, and a bandana around his head. She had met him a few times but other than he had a bit of an accent, she hadn’t had a chance to really get to know him. He was as tall as her but skinnier with dark eyes and hair. Mister Thompson had been in charge of getting a new rigging crew and he had promised this was a good one. Ahh, Captain, d’ye mind if’n ah drop this’n here while he minds how t’ breathe?

Mister Pericles, I believe? You are welcome to leave him here for the moment, she nodded.

Perry, Ma’am. She heard the heavy accent of a Trislander as he spoke. The reminder of the sea ships that normally were their trade. He smiled at her, offering his hand. She looked over his fingerless leather gloves, cut down so that it was easier to tie knots, and noticed a glint of steel around his wrists. She took his hand and turned it slightly to get a better look at the pieces of metal that were strapped to his wrists. Perry rolled his wrist to reveal a wide piece of metal with the edges curled up and smoothed out, and a hooked curve enough to catch the rope underneath them. She looked at his other hand and saw the same type of hook attached there and braced along his forearm.

These are? She raised an eyebrow at him.

Ha’ ye no seen rigging hooks afore? Perry frowned.

Captain shook her head. None of the other riggers have them, or have had them. My dad spent most his time as a rigger and never had them.

Perry nodded. Aye, they’re no the most widespread o’ things, an’ they’re tricksy things t’ get the hang o’, if ye pardon the pun.

Captain smiled as he continued, Think o’ them like extra hauns, kinna. They let me climb a wee bit faster an’ they keep mah hauns free t’ carry or swing as ah’m goin.

Captain frowned. Don’t they damage the ropes?

Perry shook his head. Naw, they’re no sharp like yer deck hooks. Think o’ the curve mair like a guide in a pulley. It widna be verra clever t’ cut the ropes yer climbin’!

Captain nodded. I see that. Are they not uncomfortable?

Perry shook his head again. Been wearin’ ’em long enough ah dinna notice fer the maist part. He tapped further along his forearm, close to the elbow. They’re much longer’n they look. Mair length means better t’ brace against, an’ less risk o’ rippin’ mah haun off at the wrist. Fun as bein’ an air sailor is, ah’m no keen on bein’ stuck wi’ an actual hook quite yet.

Captain grinned. I see you have a keen sense of humor, Mr. Perry.

Perry flashed a wicked grin. O’course, Cap’n! Whit’s a day wi’oot a smile along the way? There’s a’ways room fer some fun as ye go.

Aye, but now is the time for working, so get back in the rigging. There are too few of you already and now may be down by one before the storm starts. She looked at the man sitting on the deck. As she turned to look at Perry, she smiled as she noticed him already grabbing ropes to pull himself up.

Ye’ll no hae to tell this bird t’ go flyin’ again, he replied, and with a whistle to his fellow riggers, he was gone.

She took a minute to make sure the man was completely unhurt other than being startled and gave him orders to get back to work or go down to his bunk. Then she was headed down the stairs herself.

The first deck of the Iqaluk was mostly open space only broken up by the galley area in the middle. The bunk beds lined the walls and Captain was glad to see that none of them had crew in them. The back of the space was opened up to the cargo area below. A series of pulleys were being set up to lift and lower the leyden tanks from below. The leyden tanks were specially designed to hold the energy of a lightning strike and be used to discharge that energy into machines. The men were setting up the pathway for the tanks to travel. Up one side of the space came the empties, handed off to the crew at the collector assembly and put in place. Once the lightning started, the tanks would be charged one at a time and carefully handed off to the next crew. They would take the full tanks down the other side of the space and lower them gently into the cargo area where they would be secured. There were more men on the crew to take care of the full tanks. The process had to be quite delicate. If anything went wrong, the tank could discharge its load and electrocute anyone and anything nearby.

Walking along the line of men was the only other woman on the ship. Melody was swaying her hips a bit as she shouted at her crew. She had spent all their down time learning the collector assembly like the back of her hand and drilled her crew over and over the past week to get it in their heads how important each task was. She wore a pair of tight pants in a dull brown that matched her corset nicely. Her flowing dark hair was tied back in numerous braids, making it easy for her to pull it out of her face if need be. Fingerless leather gloves helped insulate her hands from the electricity while giving her freedom to move them when needed and it was one of those hands that had just slapped across the rear of a man who was out of his place in line.

If you want to be back in your bunk, keep sticking that arse out, Henry! I don’t want a single one of you out of your place when the lightning hits. Remember that stray energy can build up and one wrong move can cause you to get a shock you will never forget! Melody had a soft voice with a bit of song to it, but the edge on it could cut anyone’s thoughts of disobeying. She walked up to Captain, smiling at her. They are mostly novices but it won’t take them long to get the hang of it. It’s not the ideal number of men but then I do always say the more the merrier.

Captain stifled a cough and a laugh at the same time, a few of the men behind her first mate weren’t so quick. Captain had to step back as Melody’s hands slapped across the back of their heads. Dirty thoughts later! Now you concentrate on your job.

They both mumbled an apology and went back to staring at the collector. The men had only a few moments to rest before their job would get exciting but once it did, they wouldn’t need to worry about stray thoughts.

Is there anything you will need, Mels? They had been friends for so long, Captain didn’t even bother with using her title. This would be Melody’s first storm in charge of the collector crew. Her predecessor was willing to train her but not willing to actually work under a female captain.

Naw, I got these men wrapped around my finger. And those who think they can get away with being lazy good for nothings will find that stepping out of line gets that finger shoved so far up their arses that I could tell what they had for breakfast.

Some of the men winced, not looking around as they gulped. Captain laughed softly and nodded. Melody’s threat wasn’t taken as idle. She had reinforced the fact that she would beat them for disobedience just as quickly as she would praise them for a job well done.

You make such sweet promises, Miss Melody. Captain turned to see Max coming up from the cargo area. He had his goggles pulled up on his shaved head and a set of gloves tucked into his belt. He wore his raincoat open at the front with the tight button-up shirt and black pants showing underneath. Captain raised an eyebrow at the man as he came up to them. Relsus wanted to make sure that we had extra mirrors for the pilot rig and since I’m headed up as spotter this run, I figured I’d grab a new pair of gloves.

Max had been with the crew before her father died. He was an amazing navigator and, while he rarely spent much time out of the map room when he could help it, he did a great job as a pilot. The pilot’s job was never easy, requiring constant attention to the details of the ship’s movements. Sitting in the pilot’s chair for hours with little to no view of the world around you but guided by the eyes of others could scare a lot of people. Relsus had mentioned that Max would probably end up as his replacement when he retired if no one better came up.

Melody smiled over at Max. You would love it. Maybe I’ll turn my men who are out of line over to you to deal with.

That sounds like even more fun! I hope one of them gets out of line then. With a wink, he turned up to the stairs that went up on deck. Captain smiled a bit, shaking her head as she looked at the stunned men getting ready.

If you discover anything else you do need, just let me know, Mels. She patted a man on the shoulder before heading up the stairs after Max. As she watched and listened to the men working on deck, she turned to the bow. She could smell the rain in the air and feel the underlying crackle of energy starting. This storm would be gentle one and so a good start for the season.

Positions, everybody! she called, moving to her station near the pilot’s cabin once more. As she passed by several of the men, she could see them buttoning up their jackets and securing their safety lines. After the acknowledgments from the various stations, she turned to look at her head navigator on the other side of the pilot’s cabin with an eager smile. Take her up, Mr. Relsus. Let’s get the real work started.

Relsus nodded and, with a smile just as eager, he slid his goggles down over his eyes, Aye, Captain! Pilot, left rudder four degrees, climb at ten degrees and hold! Spotters, keep ’em peeled! No more drills, boys! This one’s for real!

Chapter 1

—::—

The day was quiet in port. The normal sounds of various crews working on their ships and the gulls as they flew overhead filled the dockyard. The Iqaluk was docked for some minor repairs between storms and to sell off some of their full leyden tanks. A pair of crewmen had the sail spread between them working on a small tear when two men came stomping up the stairs from the captain’s cabin.

How dare she insult you like that, sir! I don’t think you should have allowed her to hike the price up simply because you asked about her preferences, the first man said.

She can hike the price up whether we like it or not! That doesn’t mean we have to stand there and buy. She will learn that just because she is a woman doesn’t mean she can treat others like this! the second man replied as he put on his top hat. The two glared at the crewmen as they stomped down the ramp to the dock.

The crewmen snickered as they watched and shook their heads. They leaned over the sail a bit more as they whispered.

Captain is definitely not good with dealing with the clients. At this rate we aren’t going to make much for our percentage, James, the younger of the two said.

Aye, but watching the men coming aboard all pompous and then leaving in a huff is worth losing a few coins over. James leaned back as he smiled. I’ll take the Captain being herself over watching those kind of men insulting her, Deblin.

True. I’ve never liked how men looked at her when she’s doing crew call either. Deblin smiled as he went back to his part of the sail. At least I know she doesn’t take her cut before we get paid. She’s good about making sure we all get paid first.

Aye, that’s Captain for you, James laughed.

* * *

You do remember that you are supposed to be negotiating with the client so that there is more coin to repair the ship right? Xavier